Mr. Editor,--The following lines are written in pencil on sheet 61. of
the _Notes of the Debates in the Long Parliament_, taken down in the
House of Commons by Sir Ralph Verney. The _Notes of Debates_, but not
these lines, were published by the Camden Society in 1845. For any thing
that appears to the contrary, these lines may have been written in the
House as well as the _Notes of Debates_. The sheet 61. refers to debates
which took place in March 1641-2. I am not aware that the lines have
been published, nor can I assign them to their author. If any of your
readers can tell me anything about them, I shall esteem it a favour.
Wert thou yet fairer than thou art,
Which lies not in the power of art;
Or hadst thou, in thine eyes, more darts
Than Cupid ever shot at hearts;
Yet, if they were not thrown at me,
I could not cast one thought at thee. {21}
I'd rather marry a disease
Than court the thing I cannot please;
She that will cherish my desires,
Must feed my flames with equal fires.
What pleasure is there in a kiss,
To him that doubts the heart's not his?
I love thee, not 'cause thou art fair,
Smoother than down, softer than air,
Nor for those Cupids that do lie
In either corner of thine eye;
Will you then know what it may be?
'Tis--I love you 'cause you love me.