To Chloe, Courting her for his Friend

by Richard Lovelace

TO CHLOE,

Courting her for his Friend.

     I

    Chloe behold! againe I bowe,
Againe possest, againe I woe;
    From my heat hath taken fire,
Damas, noble youth, and fries:
Gazing with one of mine eyes
    Damas, halfe of me expires:
Chloe, behold! Our Fate's the same,
Or make me Cinders too, or quench his Flame

     II

I'd not be King, unlesse there sate
Lesse Lords that shar'd with me in State;
    Who by their cheaper Coronets know
    What glories from my Diadem flow:
    It's use and rate values the Gem,
    Pearles in their shells have no esteem;
And I being Sun within thy Sphere,
'Tis my chiefe beauty thinner lights shine there.

     III

The Us'rer heaps unto his store,
By seeing others praise it more;
    Who not for gaine, or want doth covet,
    But 'cause another loves, doth love it:
    Thus gluttons cloy'd afresh invite
    Their Gusts, from some new appetite;
And after cloth remov'd, and meate,
Fall too againe by seeing others eate.