Love’s Usury

• For every hour that thou wilt spare me now
• I will allow,
• Usurious God of Love, twenty to thee,
• When with my brown my gray hairs equal be;
• Till then, Love, let my body reign, and let
• Me travel, sojourn, snatch, plot, have, forget,
• Resume my last year's relic: think that yet
• We had never met.
• Let me think any rival's letter mine,
• And at next nine
• Keep midnight's promise; mistake by the way
• The maid, and tell the Lady of that delay;
• Only let me love none, no, not the sport;
• From country grass, to comfitures of Court,
• Or cities quelque choses, let report
• My mind transport.
•  
• This bargain's good; if when I 'm old, I be
• Inflamed by thee,
• If thine own honour, or my shame, or pain,
• Thou covet most, at that age thou shalt gain.
• Do thy will then, then subject and degree,
• And fruit of love, Love I submit to thee;
• Spare me till then, I 'll bear it, though she be
• One that loves me.