Lucasta; The Poems of Richard Lovelace/A Paradox

by Richard Lovelace

For works with similar titles, see Paradox.

A PARADOX.

I.

IS true the beauteous Starre^[1] To which I first did bow Burnt quicker, brighter far, Than that which leads me now;  Which shines with more delight,  For gazing on that light  So long, neere lost my sight.

II.

Through foul we follow faire, For had the world one face,And earth been bright as ayre, We had knowne neither place.  Indians smell not their neast;  A Swisse or Finne tastes best  The spiecs of the East.^[2]

III.

So from the glorious Sunne Who to his height hath got,With what delight we runne To some black cave or grot!  And, heav’nly Sydney you  Twice read, had rather view  Some odde romance so new.

IV.

The god, that constant keepes Unto his deities,Is poore in joyes, and sleepes Imprison’d in the skies.  This knew the wisest, who  From Juno stole, below  To love a bear or cow.

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1. i. e. Lucasta.
2. The East was celebrated by all our early poets as the land of spices and rich gums:—
   
   "For now the fragrant East,The spicery o' th' world,     Hath hurl’dA rosie tincture o’er the Phœnix neat.”Otia Sacra, by Mildmay, Earl of Westmorsland, 1648, p. 37.