Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works in Prose and Verse. The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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On Absence.
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 | Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works |  |
141
On Absence.
TO LEONORA.
If absence so much racks my Charmer's heart,
Believe that Strephon's bears a double smart,
So well he loves, and knows thy love so fine,
That in his Own distress he suffers Thine:
Yet, O forgive him, if his thoughts displease,
He would not, cannot wish Thee more at ease.
Believe that Strephon's bears a double smart,
So well he loves, and knows thy love so fine,
That in his Own distress he suffers Thine:
Yet, O forgive him, if his thoughts displease,
He would not, cannot wish Thee more at ease.
What need you bid me think of pleasures past?
Was there one joy, whose image does not last?
But that One; most extatic, most refin'd,
Reigns fresh, and will for ever in my mind,
With such a power of charms it storm'd my soul,
That nothing ever can it's strength controul.
Not sleep, not age, not absence can avail,
Reflection, ever young, must still prevail.
What influence-divine did guide that hour,
Which gave to minutes the Almighty Power,
To fix (whilst other joys are not a span)
A pleasure lasting as the life of man.
Was there one joy, whose image does not last?
But that One; most extatic, most refin'd,
Reigns fresh, and will for ever in my mind,
With such a power of charms it storm'd my soul,
That nothing ever can it's strength controul.
Not sleep, not age, not absence can avail,
Reflection, ever young, must still prevail.
What influence-divine did guide that hour,
Which gave to minutes the Almighty Power,
To fix (whilst other joys are not a span)
A pleasure lasting as the life of man.
| Matthew Prior. Dialogues of the Dead and Other Works | |