Love

To Clarastella complaining of my long kisses

by Robert Heath fl. 1636–1659

From Clarastella (1650), Poems, &c.

Love

Madam! I vow I never knew
One creature of your sex till you,
Find fault with what was long in men,
Oh do not geld my Phansie then!
Nor blame my pleasures extasie,
That when each sense is feasted, I
Thus tast each pure Ambrosiack kisse,
And by degrees melt down my blisse.

Oh those smooth, soft, and Rubie lips,
That fright the Sun to an Eclipse,
Whose Rosie and Virmilion hue
Betray the blushing thoughts in you:
Whose fragrant Amoratick breath
Wou'd revive dying Saints from death,
Whose Syren-like harmonious air
Speaks musick and enchants the ear;
Who would not hang? and fixed there
Wish he might know no other sphere?
Oh for a charm to make the Sun
Drunk, and forget his motion!
Oh that some palsie or lame gout
Would cramp old times diseased foot!
Or that I might, or moult or clip
His speedy wings, whilst on her lip
I quench my thirsty appetite
With the life honey dwels on it!
Oh for a Crane-like neck that may
This Nectar slowly thence convey!
Then on this holy Altar, I
Would sacrifice eternally,
Offring one long continued mine
Of Golden pleasures to thy shrine.
I mean not Pompeys biting kiss
Flora did so commend: nor his
Venerious sip Catullus us'd
Where lip-salve was from each infus'd
No: a more holy chast impresse,
May th'image of each mind expresse
As perfect as the wax the seal:
Such kisses do not wound, but heal.

Kissing, thou sacred kissing art,
Onely the intellective part
Of pleasure; by which union
Our souls discourse and meet in one
Fixt Center, whilst in a ful kiss
Each am'rous line concentred is:
Nor doth it violate Chastitie,
Or forfeit like Adulterie.
The dowry now, as heretofore,
(When but to speak, or see, was more
Immodest deem'd, at least as much,
A Woman; as 'tis now to touch.)
Thus with chast lips we blow Loves fire
To a live coal; thus fan it higher:
Thus do we seal affections band,
Which onely death can cancel: and
Whilst both our hearts and lips do meet
Thus do our souls each other greet:
Thus we engender speaking Love
Peculiar only to the Dove:
Whereas all other bodies heat
Of Lust doth them incorporate
But only in the act; yet we
Thus renew love t' eternitie
With fresh unsated appetite,
And without shame or sad regret;
Which true experience doth prove
The difference betwixt Lust an Love.
Then let us kiss like Turtles, close
Until we both seem one: til those
That see our hearts saluting thus
Shal not disturb, but envy us.
Coyness in women makes men more
Suspect they'l do behind the door:
If thus you think I kiss too much;
Know that my love to you is such,
That whensoe'r it pleaseth you
I'l closer kiss, drink deeper too.

MLA

Heath, Robert. “To Clarastella complaining of my long kisses.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heath_r/54/.

Chicago

Heath, Robert. “To Clarastella complaining of my long kisses.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heath_r/54/.

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