University of Virginia Library


62

Love and Honour.

That Herald he was but a dull Ass
Who before Love gave Honour the place;
For Nature and Love are both of a date,
And Honour but yesterday set up her State.
Honour we grant's the Daughter of Love,
And this doth them their Precedess prove;
For Honour's but Heat, 'tis Love is the Fire;
This may Preserve, but that Kindles Desire.
If you take away Love, then Dame Honour must
Come down a degree, and lie in the Dust:
'Tis a Green-sickness fancy to famish Love,
And feed upon Honour, which fatal may prove.
Then you may leave off, for 'tis Labour in vain
By Reason to Cure a True Lovers pain:
Then farewell dull Mortall, since it is most true
That with Honour and Love thou hast nothing to doe.