O! Never Say Ye Lovest Me Poem by Chukwuebuka Adebayo

O! Ne`er say ye lovest meO! Ne`er say ye lovest me,
From cozen nurtured i`thy heart's lee;
Sweetly as caesar`s clown: thou oft-speaks,
O! Ne`er say thou lovest meO! Ne`er say thou lovest me;
If thy eyne art of whom visageIf thy eyne art of whom visage,
Doth drawl praises and bare as many shrieks;
(6)
Whereupon thy sin pul`ing thee thereto hades`lakeWhereupon thy sin pul`ing thee thereto hades`lakWhereupon thy sin pul`ing thee thereto hades`lakeWhereupon thy sin pul`ing thee thereto hades`lake,
And merely if thou blames thy pledges as mistakeAnd merely if thou blames thy pledges as mistake;
Covertly whilst shalt thou run on thine heeCovertly whilst shalt thou run on thine heel,
Fiery faun roars; Whence pierced-devil yellFiery faun roars; Whence pierced-devil yell;
Then hate me e`er only if ne`r thou afread of hell,
Haste not, Haste not love, likeas steed tied to wheelHaste not, Haste not love, likeas steed tied to wheel;
(12)
Ifsoe`en all figs on nature grows but raisins,
Heretofore trees`arms fettered unto stormy gales and rainsHeretofore trees`arms fettered unto stormy gales and rains;
Know thou, every sons of adam heavily art boundKnow thou, every sons of adam heavily art bound,
Flow`g seas, every vales turnest honey-winesFlow`g seas, every vales turnest honey-wines;
Therein moilsome, With sweat dropp`g from their holes,
`Tis thence they eat; gathered their almond`Tis thence they eat; gathered their almond;
(18)
Whilstsoever all the ilke and world`s an ice-fieldWhilstsoever all the ilke and world`s an ice-field,
That`s mystery of life, All the world must yield;
`Twould be a naked feet we wade through all`Twould be a naked feet we wade through all;
Fie's beauty and distraught upon beautisome of mine!
For `ey shalt wither as grass: wilts as pineFor `ey shalt wither as grass: wilts as pine,
As dreary as summer with sun maketh roses fall;
(24)
Lo! Never is`t deathless as colleens`age,
Hidden malodour of flowers art as dung i`glade;
`Tis thenceward that ill-taste of love unveil`Tis thenceward that ill-taste of love unveil,
Eke, Belike bedecked delineation and portraits doth fadestEke, Belike bedecked delineation and portraits doth fadest;
Thusly goest pulchritude away virgin's breast,
Mayest avow collect thou moon; the rocketeer neilMayest avow collect thou moon; the rocketeer neil;
(30)
Flails not thereof; why `tis gleam of purest tan?
Gladdens thy lofty eyes not, Neither its roanGladdens thy lofty eyes not, Neither its roan;
Stars gilts, fine art gilds as costly diamonds,
Flashing, yet no enow pleasure of a saved loveFlashing, yet no enow pleasure of a saved love;
O Love, Ne`er starest nor clamour to haveO Love, Ne`er starest nor clamour to have,
Uponst runnel`s osier, Uponst evergreen mounds;
(36)
Amidst young rocks, fortified caverns full of ariledAmidst young rocks, fortified caverns full of ariled,
Thither be no stand of apples thy lips doth willedThither be no stand of apples thy lips doth willed;
Tarry hither, for my love 's right; mine heart intentextTarry hither, for my love 's right; mine heart intentext,
Forsooth, As magnet wiltn't disown`r darling iron;
Fastened and tightly sealed inward and uponFastened and tightly sealed inward and upon,
Each so dearly and close to nextEach so dearly and close to next;
(42)
And canst pass betwixt no airAnd canst pass betwixt no aAnd canst pass betwixt no airAnd canst pass betwixt no air,
Hold my hand, `cause tapered