 | Clarastella |  |
To his dear friend H. N.
With what strange Philtrum's thou didst charm the wine,Whose powr'ful influence made our souls combine
And melt into our loving cups; or how
First thou didst win me to thee, I not know;
Wast 'cause thou'rt pleasant thinkst thou? with discreet
And harmless mirth setting an edge to wit?
Or 'cause thou'rt liberal, courteous, and free,
The friend and Genius of the companie?
Was't for thy person, wealth, or valour I
So lov'd thee? or was't only sympathie?
Was't this, or altogether made me doate
Upon thee first? no sure, nor this nor that:
I can no certain cause assign thee why,
But this, I love thee without reason, I.
| Clarastella | |