GEORGE WITHER

��237. The Lover's Resolution

CHALL I, wasting in despair, ^ Die because a woman 's fair ? Or make pale my cheeks with care 'Cause another's rosy are ? Be she fairer than the day, Or the flow'ry meads in May, If she think not well of me, What care I how fair she be?

Shall my silly heart be pined 'Cause I see a woman kind? Or a well disposed nature Joined with a lovely feature ? Be she meeker, kinder, than Turtle-dove or pelican, If she be not so to me, What care I how kind she be?

Shall a woman's virtues move Me to perish for her love ? Or her well-deservings known Make me quite forget my own ? Be she with that goodness blest Which may merit name of Best, If she be not such to me, What care I how good she be?

'Cause her fortune seems too high, Shall I play the fool and die? She that bears a noble mind, If not outward helps she find,

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