| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Sir Charles Sedley. 1639–1701 |
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| 409. To Chloris |
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| AH, Chloris! that I now could sit | |
| As unconcern'd as when | |
| Your infant beauty could beget | |
| No pleasure, nor no pain! | |
| When I the dawn used to admire, | 5 |
| And praised the coming day, | |
| I little thought the growing fire | |
| Must take my rest away. | |
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| Your charms in harmless childhood lay | |
| Like metals in the mine; | 10 |
| Age from no face took more away | |
| Than youth conceal'd in thine. | |
| But as your charms insensibly | |
| To their perfection prest, | |
| Fond love as unperceived did fly, | 15 |
| And in my bosom rest. | |
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| My passion with your beauty grew, | |
| And Cupid at my heart, | |
| Still as his mother favour'd you, | |
| Threw a new flaming dart: | 20 |
| Each gloried in their wanton part; | |
| To make a lover, he | |
| Employ'd the utmost of his art— | |
| To make a beauty, she. | |
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