Her hair with lovers’ hopes curled in long rings,
Her braids hard plaited2 with his protestings,
Yet oftentimes those curlèd hairs went out3
With lovers’ windy fears, and damps of doubt.4
Strings of threaded tears about her neck she wore,5 5
Which, dropped from th’lover’s eyes, his6 image bore.
His sighs, as pendants, did hang at each7 ear,
Sometime were troublesome, if8 heavy were.
Her gown was made of admiration,9
Embroideries of praises placed thereon;10 10
Ribbons of verses love hung11 here and there,
According as the several fancies were.
With some she tied her looking-glass of pride,
And fan of good opinion by her side.
Sometimes Love pleasure took a veil to place, 15
Of glances, which did cover all her face.
- A marginal note in Cavendish’s 1653 text reads, “1 Masquer.” This note does not appear in the 1664 or 1668 editions.
- hard plaited] plaited hard 1653
- Yet oftentimes those curlèd hairs went out] But often with her Lover’s Damps of Doubt, 1664; But often, with her Lover’s Damps of Doubts, 1668
- With lovers’ windy fears, and damps of doubt.] And windy Fears, these Curled Rings went out; 1664; And windy Fears, these Curled Rings went out. 1668
- of threaded tears about her neck she wore,] round her Neck of threaded Tears she wore, 1664; round her Neck, of threaded Tears she wore, 1668
- Which dropped from th’lover’s eyes, his] Dropt from her Lovers Eyes, whose 1653
- did hang at each] hung at either 1653
- Sometime were troublesome, if] Which did much Troubl’her when they 1664; Which did much troubl’her, when they 1668
- Her gown was made of admiration,] Of Admiration was her Gowne made on, 1653
- Embroideries of praises placed thereon;] Where Praises high imbroyder’d were upon. 1653
- of verses love hung] hung of Love-Verses 1664; hung, of Love-Verses, 1668