Page 2247 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

For from the stillitory of thy face excelling
Comes breath perfum’d, that breedeth love by smelling.

«But oh what banquet wert thou to the taste, [445]
Being nurse and feeder of the other four!
Would they not wish the feast might ever last,

And bid suspicion double-lock the door,
Lest jealousy, that sour unwelcome guest,
Should by his stealing in disturb the feast?» [450]

Once more the ruby-colour’d portal open’d,
Which to his speech did honey passage yield,

Like a red morn that ever yet betoken’d
Wrack to the seaman, tempest to the field,
Sorrow to shepherds, woe unto the birds, [455]

Gusts and foul flaws to herdmen and to herds.

This ill presage advisedly she marketh:
Even as the wind is hush’d before it raineth,
Or as the wolf doth grin before he barketh,
Or as the berry breaks before it staineth, [460]

Or like the deadly bullet of a gun,
His meaning struck her ere his words begun.

And at his look she flatly falleth down,
For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth:
A smile recures the wounding of a frown. [465]

But blessed bankrout, that by love so thriveth!
The silly boy, believing she is dead,
Claps her pale cheek, till clapping makes it red.

And all amaz’d brake off his late intent,

For sharply did he think to reprehend her, [470]
Which cunning love did wittily prevent:
Fair fall the wit that can so well defend her!
For on the grass she lies as she were slain,
Till his breath breatheth life in her again.