Metaphysical & Cavalier

Robert Heath

fl. 1636–1659

Robert Heath, styled Esquire on his title page, was an English poet of the Caroline and Interregnum years. Very little is securely known of his life, and he is remembered almost entirely for a single printed volume, which gives its name to a wider circle of friends and patrons named only by their initials in his dedications and elegies.

Clarastella, together with Poems Occasional, Elegies, Epigrams, Satyrs was printed in London in 1650 for Humphrey Moseley. It opens with a sequence of love poems addressed to the fictional Clarastella, then turns to occasional verse, elegies for friends and for Royalist casualties of the Civil War, two books of short satirical epigrams, and four longer verse satires on the follies of the age.

Poems (284)

The Temple of Virtue
On a dust got in Clarastella's eie
On Clarastella singing to the Eccho at Aythorn Church in Kent
On Loving at first sight
On a black mole on Clarastella's faire check
Bleeding at the nose at Clarastella's approach
Seeing Her Dancing
To her having got a great Cold
The Invocation to Cupid
To one blaming my high-minded Love
On Clarastella's Picture drawn very like her
On Mrs. E. H. having red haire on her head, and on her left side a pure white lock growing
Amoris Somnium. To Clarastella
On Clarastella singing
A Love Dialogue between Damon and Stella
Clarastella playing sweetly on the Lute
To Clarastella. Loves enterteinment
On Clarastella walking in the Snow that dissolved assoon as it came near her or the ground she trod on
To Clarastella. Loves Silence
Clarastella distrusting
To Clarastella affrighted at the sight of a Cats fiery eies in the dark, which caused her to shreik
On a Fleabite espied on her fair hand
On the taking of an Amethist ring from off Clarastella's finger as she was sleeping
Loves Expiration
On a Christal Watch presented to Clarastella
Of Love and Liking
Dialogue between Sylvio and Mirtillo
To Clarastella. Loves Constancie
To Clarastella upon a favour received from her which she tied in my hat
Clarastella's Indictment
On the loss of a Gold-open-ring in which some of Clarastella's hair was enclosed
To Clarastella saying she would commit her selfe to a Nunnerie
The Quaere. What is Love?
To Clarastella on St. Valentines day morning
To Clarastella in a storme at Sea
To her, the Storm ceasing
On Clarastella walking in her Garden
On the loss of Clarastella's black fan
To Clarastella on a Nosegay of flowers which she wore at her bosome
Song
On Clarastella discovered sleeping in her bed
To her at departure
Elegiack Song
To Cupid. Song
To a Lady wearing a Looking-glass at her girdle
To Clarastella
The Farewel to Clarastella
On the Report of Clarastella's death
To a Painter limning a Curtezan
On the young and fair Mrs M. H. her hair being unfortunately burnt by chance in the candle as she was Combing her head at night
Writ on Clarastella's Busk
Deploring Clarastella's Inconstancie
Loves Haesitation. To Clarastella
To Clarastella admiring her black Eies and Hair
To Clarastella complaining of my long kisses
To Clarastella. Why Lovers walk round
A Pastoral Protest of Love by Damon to Stella
To an old Gentlewoman that would have her Picture drawn
Epithalamium Amatorium To Aurora
On the strange unfortunate breaking of a Glass in a Tavern
Drinking on a rainy day
To one that hearing I had some faculty in Poesie, simply requested me to write somewhat on his dear wife lately dead
On Copernicus his opinion of the earths turning round
To one that was so impatient with the tooth-ach that he would not rest til all his teeth were drawn forth
On Whip the Preaching Coachman
On the unusual cold and rainie weather in the Summer. 1648
Farewel to passionate Love
The Excuse. To the Ladie E. B
Equalitie To two fair Mistresses
To a friend. Ode
A sudden Phansie at Midnight
On a Map of the World accidentally faln into the water and spoiled
Upon the sight of an old but very deformed woman
On the late Sect of the Adamites
To a Ladie on the Death of her little Dog
In Crumenâ Vacuum an non?
To a Friend wishing peace
Song in a siege
On the Creeple souldiers marching in Oxford in the Lord Thr. Cottington's Companie
Refrigerium
On the Death of the young and pious Ladie Mrs C. P
Epicedium On the beautiful Lady Mrs A. K. unfortunately drowned by chance in the Thames in passing the Bridge
On the Death of the excellent fair Lady, the Lady A. R
On the losse of Mr N. W. his three finggers cut off at the battel of Edgehil, he being both a Poet and a Musitian
Naenia Upon the death of my dear friend T. S. Esquire, slain at the first fight at Newbery, 1645
Upon the lingring death of the Virtuous Mrs L. H
Upon the Death of the truly valiant Sir Bevil Grenvil slain
Upon the unfortunate death of the truly gallant and noble Gent. Ed. Sackvil, Esquire
Elegie Upon the death of that thrice valiant Lord, the Lord Bernard Stewart, slain in the fight neer West-Chester
On the Death of that most famous Musician Mr W. Lawes, slain in this unhappy Civil Warr
To a lacivious Blackamoore Woman
To Cosmus
On Lieutenant Catch
To one that after ten years studie, brought forth a lamentable work
On rich Lock
To the Printer
On Galla her going to a Nunnerie
On Marcus
To Sullen
On Cleombrotus
To a Travellour
On the Ladie Seem-pol
On Sir Gervas Loftie
To the Reader
Epitaph on a Poor Alchymist
Why men are so unlike
To Madam Moyle on her Picture
Epitaph on a very fat man
To Clois
On the English Mounsieur
On Philautus
On Nab and Plodwel
To Lupa
On Priske and Galla
To a fat Usurer
On Wylde
On Smart
On Brisk
On Mopsa a Chambermaide
To fat Apicius
On a deaf man and his blind wife
On Lena
Why Justice is painted blind
Of Love. Sonnets
To Sir Gregorie Nonsense
To spend-fast a Gamster
To the Ingenious Reader
On Sullen
To Pistor
On a fruitful Merchants wife
To a painted Whore
To Brisk
To Jeffry the Kings dwarfe
To Overwise
On Mounsieur Finedress
On Philautus
To Gripe
On Lurch the match-contriver
To the Reader
On Proud
To his dear friend H. N
To Gripe and Holdclose
To Gallus
On Bib
Of Loving Husbands
On Luscus
On Stut
On the strange Death of Eschylus. a Poet
On Cob
On Cleopatra
On an Inveighing Poetaster
The Dedication to Momus
On Dul
On Accismus
On Tucca
To Rash
To Crispinus
On Howdee
To Brave
On Venterwit
On Braggadochio Cit
On Wylde
On Childish love
On Mr Spendall
On Lawyer Say-much
To Medicus on Tucca
To Vetus an old Antiquary
On Fine
On the Drunkards lavishness
On Poetizing Momus
On Linus
On Gallus
On Histrio
To a Tobaccoseller
To the Reader
To Bankes
To the Physicians
To Lupa
Epitaph on Bibulus
On Histrio
To Gut
To Simple
To Brisk
On Nano being angry
To my Reader
To one that asked me why I would write an English Epigram after B. Johnson
On Galla
To Nab
Certain modest deprecations against my malevolent Detractour
To the Lady Phanton
On Lying
Epitaph on John Newter
A Question about Law
To my Book-seller
On Mr Fanning the Engastrometh
On the Invention of Printing and Guns
To Megaera
On Plot
To W. B. a smal Poet
The Stonie Age
To Captain Nym
To Mutus
To Jealous
On Taurus
On Swill
On Resolute Bat
To Veta an old Shrew
To Big
To Maechus
On Captain Sharke
To Boldface
To Phydias a Painter
On Choeril
On Stupro
On Swillmore
On Brave
On Pure
On Dull
On Sir Sullen Haughtie
To his worthy friend T. S. Esquire
To Pantagus
To Lautus
On Prophane
On Bib
The effects of Brainsick's letters
On Mr Ap-Taffie Shentilman of Wales
To an Irish-man
To Spruce
To Formall
On Swift
The Wisdome of this age
On Priscus
On Proud
On Doctor Emperick
On Bib
On Nokes
To his friend and Companion Mr H. N
To Levinus
On Vulpe
Blessed Ignorance
To a poore Begger
On Thais her Bastard
On Gamster
Epitaph on the Preaching Cobler How
On Sir John Lackland
On Cosmo
On Lowsi-Patch
On Light
On a fire in a Town
Epitaph on Hocas Pocas
To one that talked finely
To Cosmo on his fair scolding wife
On Silly
To Momus
On Bib
To Moore
To Madam Cr. wearing a lookinglass at her Girdle
On Squire Huffe
On Philip Soupe and Jone his wife
On Poet Cordus a Rimer
On Fusk
To an old deformed Woman
To Cit
To Plagiarie
To Lysippus a Barber
To a corrupt Judge
Lydia encountered
On Gaming
On Brag
To Cosmo
On Mounsieur Congee
On Gripe
To Harsh
To Cupid. His Armes blazoned
On proud Mrs. Minx
On three Knights without spurs
On Copernicus his opinion who thought the earth went round
On Doctour Love-Self
To my smal friend with a great beard
To Ignorant Zoile
Satyr 1
Satyr 2
Satyr 3
Satyr 4

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