StoryTitle("caps", "The Choice ") ?>
PoemStart() ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Me so oft my fancy drew ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Here and there, that I ne'er knew ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where to place desire before ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So that range it might no more; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "But as he that passeth by ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where, in all her jollity, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Flora's riches in a row ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Do in seemly order grow, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And a thousand flowers stand ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Bending as to kiss his hand; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Out of which delightful store ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "One he may take and no more; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Long he pausing doubteth whether ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Of those fair ones he should gather. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "First the Primrose courts his eyes, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then the Cowslip he espies; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Next the Pansy seems to woo him, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Then Carnations bow unto him; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which whilst that enamour'd swain ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "From the stalk intends to strain, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "(As half-fearing to be seen) ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Prettily her leaves between ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Peeps the Violet, pale to see ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That her virtues slighted be; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Which so much his liking wins ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That to seize her he begins. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yet before he stoop'd so low ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "He his wanton eye did throw ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "On a stem that grew more high, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the Rose did there espy. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Who, beside her previous scent, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "To procure his eyes content ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Did display her goodly breast, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where he found at full exprest ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "All the good that Nature showers ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "On a thousand other flowers; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Wherewith he affected takes it, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "His belovéd flower he makes it, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And without desire of more ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Walks through all he saw before. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "So I wand'ring but erewhile ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Through the garden of this Isle, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Saw rich beauties, I confess, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And in number numberless. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Yea, so differing lovely too, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That I had a world to do ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Ere I could set up my rest, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where to choose and choose the best. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Thus I fondly fear'd, till Fate ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "(Which I must confess in that ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Did a greater favour to me ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Than the world can malice do me) ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Show'd to me that matchless flower, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Subject for this song of our; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Whose perfection having eyed, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Reason instantly espied ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That Desire, which ranged abroad, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "There would find a period: ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And no marvel if it might, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For it there hath all delight, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And in her hath nature placed ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "What each several fair one graced. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Let who list, for me, advance ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The admiréd flowers of France, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Let who will praise and behold ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "The reservéd Marigold; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Let the sweet-breath'd Violet now ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Unto whom she pleaseth bow; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the fairest Lily spread ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Where she will her golden head; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I have such a flower to wear ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That for those I do not care. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Let the young and happy swains ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Playing on the Britain plains ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Court unblamed their shepherdesses, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And with their gold curléd tresses ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Toy uncensured, until I ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Grudge at their prosperity. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Let all times, both present, past, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "And the age that shall be last, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Vaunt the beauties they bring forth. ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "I have found in one such worth, ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "That content I neither care ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "What the best before me were; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Nor desire to live and see ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Who shall fair hereafter be; ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "For I know the hand of Nature ", "") ?>
PoemLine("L0", "", "Will not make a fairer creature.", "") ?>
Poet("George Wither", "1588-1667") ?>
PoemEnd() ?>