I took the fall (october I believe) 2004 SAT II in literature, and on
that test I read a poem that I really liked. It was entitled "To my
lady E.C., At her going out of England". It had no author but it did
have a date: 1656. I have been unsucessful in trying to find the poem
again online, and so I am turning to you for help!!!!

I wasn't able to find your poem, but I have a guess regarding its
possible authorship.

Using the pen name 'Orinda', the English poet Katherine Philips wrote
several poems to Elizabeth Clifford Boyle, Lady Cork, in which she
referred to Mrs. Boyle as 'Lady E.C.', and 1656 would be an
appropriate date.

Many of the 'Orinda' poems are quite passionate. Unfortunately, few of
them appear online.

TO MY LADY E.C. AT HER GOING OUT OF ENGLAND
by John Suckling


I MUST confess, when I did part from you,
I could not force an artificial dew
Upon my cheeks, nor with a gilded phrase
Express how many hundred several ways
My heart was tortur'd, nor, with arms across,
In discontented garbs set forth my loss:
Such loud expressions many times do come
From lightest hearts: great griefs are always dumb.
The shallow rivers roar, the deep are still;
Numbers of painted words may show much skill:
But little anguish and a cloudy face
Is oft put on, to serve both time and place:
The blazing wood may to the eye seem great,
But 'tis the fire rak'd up that has the heat,
And keeps it long. True sorrow 's like to wine:
That which is good does never need a sign.
My eyes were channels far too small to be
Conveyers of such floods of misery:

And so pray think; or if you 'd entertain
A thought more charitable, suppose some strain
Of sad repentance had, not long before,
Quite empti'd for my sins that wat'ry store:
So shall you him oblige that still will be
Your servant to his best ability.