A Black-moor Maid wooing a fair Boy:
sent to the Author by Mr. Hen.Rainolds.

Stay lovely Boy, why fly’st thou mee

That languish in these flames for thee?

I'm black 'tis true: why so is Night,

And Love doth in dark Shades delight.

The whole World, do but close thine eye, 5

Will seem to thee as black as I;

Or op't and see what a black shade

Is by thine own fair body made,

That follows thee where e're thou go;

(O who allow'd would not do so?) 10

Let me for ever dwell so nigh,

And thou shalt need no other shade than I.

Mr. Hen.Rainolds.

SOURCE: Poems, Elegies, Paradoxes, and Sonnets (London, 1657)