LXX To Castara. The Reward of Innocent Love
We saw and wooed each other’s eyes,
My soul contracted then with thine,
And both burnt in one sacrifice,
By which our marriage grew divine.
Let wilder youth, whose soul is sense, 5
Profane the temple of delight,
And purchase endless penitence
With the stol’n pleasure of one night.
Time’s ever ours, while we despise
The sensual idol of our clay, 10
For though the suns do set and rise,
We joy one everlasting day;
Whose light no jealous clouds obscure,
While each of us shine innocent;
The troubled stream is still impure; 15
With virtue flies away content.
And though opinions often err,
We’ll court the modest smile of fame,
For sin’s black danger circles her
Who hath infection in her name. 20
Thus when to one dark silent room
Death shall our loving coffins thrust,
Fame will build columns on our tomb,
And add a perfume to our dust.
William Habington.