The Works of Abraham Cowley/Volume 2/Love's Visibility
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LOVE'S VISIBILITY.
With much of pain, and all the art I knew,
Have I endeavour'd hitherto
To hide my love, and yet all will not do.
Have I endeavour'd hitherto
To hide my love, and yet all will not do.
The world perceives it, and, it may be, she;
Though so discreet and good she be,
By hiding it, to teach that skill to me.
Though so discreet and good she be,
By hiding it, to teach that skill to me.
Men without love have oft so cunning grown,
That something like it they have shown;
But none who had it ever seem'd t' have none.
That something like it they have shown;
But none who had it ever seem'd t' have none.
Love's of a strangely open, simple kind,
Can no arts or disguises find,
But thinks none sees it 'cause itself is blind.
Can no arts or disguises find,
But thinks none sees it 'cause itself is blind.
The very eye betrays our inward smart;
Love of himself left there a part,
When thorough it he past into the heart.
Love of himself left there a part,
When thorough it he past into the heart.
Or if by chance the face betray not it,
But keep the secret wisely, yet,
Like drunkenness, into the tongue 't will get.
But keep the secret wisely, yet,
Like drunkenness, into the tongue 't will get.