The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed: And Those which he Design'd for the Press, Now Published out of the Authors Original Copies ... The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
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 | The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley |  |
The Dissembler.
1
Unhurt , untoucht did I complain;And terrifi'd all others with the pain:
But now I feel the mighty evil;
Ah, there's no fooling with the Devil!
So wanton men, whilst others they would fright,
Themselves have met a real Spright.
2
I thought, I'll swear, an handsome lyHad been no sin at all in Poetry:
But now I suffer an Arrest,
For words were spoke by me in jest.
Dull, sottish God of Love, and can it be
Thou understand'st not Raillery?
3
Darts, and Wounds, and Flame, and Heat,I nam'd but for the Rhime, or the Conceit.
Nor meant my Verse should raised be,
To this sad fame of Prophesie;
Truth gives a dull propriety to my stile,
And all the Metaphors does spoil.
4
In things, where Fancy much does reign,'Tis dangerous too cunningly to feign.
The Play at last a Truth does grow,
And Custom into Nature go.
By this curst art of begging I became
Lame, with counterfeiting Lame.
133
5
My Lines of amorous desireI wrote to kindle and blow others fire:
And 'twas a barbarous delight
My Fancy promis'd from the sight;
But now, by Love, the mighty Phalaris, I
My burning Bull the first do try.
| The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley | |