Why Lovelace

I'm frustrated  :(  There's this beautiful reading list I brought back from Jim---actually, two beautiful lists, one to read immediately and another to read at leisure during the year---and I can't start reading now, because I do my substantial readings in slow instalments over several days, and because I'll soon be under oath to use German exclusively (which means I wouldn't actually have several days if I started now).

That's why I'm reading Capt. Lovelace, who isn't on either of my lists (which means I can read bits and pieces and then leave him when I want).  I'll be posting his stuff this week.

Here's one:
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To Lucasta, Going Beyond the Seas

By Richard Lovelace

I.

If to be absent were to be

         Away from thee;

    Or that when I am gone,

    You or I were alone;

Then my Lucasta might I crave

Pity from blustring winde, or swallowing wave.

II.

But I'le not sigh one blast or gale

         To swell my saile,

    Or pay a teare to swage

    The foaming blew-Gods rage;

For whether he will let me passe

Or no, I'm still as happy as I was.

III.

Though Seas and Land betwixt us both,

         Our Faith and Troth,

    Like separated soules,

    All time and space controules:

Above the highest sphere wee meet

Unseene, unknowne, and greet as Angels greet.

IV.

So then we doe anticipate

         Our after-fate,

    And are alive i' th' skies,

    If thus our lips and eyes

Can speake like spirits unconfin'd

In Heav'n, their earthy bodies left behind.