46. To Althea, from Prison
—— R. Lovelace
When Love with unfined wings
Hovers within my gates,
And my divihea brings
To whisper at the grates;
When I lie tangled in her hair
Aer’d to her eye,
The birds that wanton in the air
Know no such liberty.
When flowing cups run swiftly round
With no allaying Thames,
Our careless heads with ros bound,
Our hearts with loyal flames;
When thirsty grief in wieep,
Whehs and draughts go free—
Fishes that tipple in the deep
Know no such liberty.
When, like itted lis, I
With shriller throat shall sing
The sweetness, mercy, majesty,
And glories of my King;
When I shall voice aloud how good
He is, how great should be,
Enlarged winds, that curl the flood,
Know no such liberty.
Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage:
Minds i and quiet take
That for aage.
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alohat soar above,
Enjoy such liberty.