O sweet kiss! but ah! she is waking.
Low'ring beauty chastens me:
Now will I away hence flee;
Fool! more fool! for no more taking.
THIRD SONG.
If ORPHEUS' voice had force to breathe such music's love
Through pores of senseless trees, as it could make them move:
If stones good measure danced the Theban walls to build,
To cadence of the tunes which AMPHION'S lyre did yield:
More cause a like effect at least wise bringeth.
O stones! O trees! learn hearing! STELLA singeth!
If love might sweeten so a boy of shepherd brood,
To make a lizard dull, to taste love's dainty food:
If eagle fierce could so in Grecian maid delight,
As his light were her eyes, her death his endless night:
Earth gave that love. Heaven, I trow, love refineth.
O beasts! O birds! look! love! lo, STELLA shineth!
The beasts, birds, stones and trees feel this; and feeling, love.
And if the trees nor stones stir not the same to prove;
Nor beasts nor birds do come unto this blessèd gaze:
Know that small love is quick, and great love doth amaze.
They are amazed: but you, with reason armed,
O eyes! O ears of men! how are you charmed!
