Know, Celia, Since Thou Art So Proud

Portrait of Thomas Carew
Thomas Carew 1595–1640

Know, Celia, since thou art so proud, 'Twas I that gave thee thy renown. Thou hadst in the forgotten crowd Of common beauties lived unknown Had not my verse extolled thy name, And with it imped the wings of Fame.

That killing power is none of thine; I gave it to thy voice and eyes. Thy sweets, thy graces, all are mine; Thou art my star, shin'st in my skies: Then dart not from thy borrowed sphere Lightning on him that fixed thee there.

Tempt me with such affrights no more, Lest what I made I uncreate. Let fools thy mystic form adore, I know thee in thy mortal state. Wise poets, that wrapped truth in tales, Knew her themselves through all her veils.

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