University of Virginia Library

Book II. Elegy X.

To a Friend, Acquainting him, that he is in Love with two at one time.

I've heard, my Friend, and heard it said by you,
No man at once could ever well love two:
But I was much deceiv'd upon that score,
For single I at once love one, and more:
Two at one time reign joyntly in my Breast,
Both handsom are, both charming, both well-dress'd,
And hang me, if I know, which takes me best:
This Fairer is than that, and that than this,
That more than this: and this than that does please:
Tost, like a Ship, by diff'rent gusts of Love,
Now to this Point, and now to that I move.
Why, Love, why dost thou double thus my pains?
Was't not enough to bear one Tyrant's chains?
Why, Goddess, do'st thou vainly lavish more
On one, that was top-full of Love before?
Yet thus I'd rather love, than not at all,
May that ill Curse my Enemies befal:
May my worst Foe be damn'd to love of none,
Be damn'd to Continence, and lie alone:
Let Loves alarms each night disturb my Rest,
And drowsie sleep never approach my Breast,
Or strait-way thence be by new Pleasure chas'd.
Let Pleasure in succession keep my Sense
Ever awake, or ever in a Trance:
Let me lie melting in my fair One's Arms,
Riot in Bliss, and surfeit on her Charms:
Let her undo me there without controul,
Drain nature quite, suck out my very Soul:
And, if by one I can't enough be drawn,
Give me another, clap more Leeches on.
The Gods have made me of the sporting kind,
And for the Feat my Pliant Limbs design'd:
What Nature has in Bulk to me denied,
In Sinews, and in vigour is supplied:
And should my Strength be wanting to Desire,
Pleasure would add new Fewel to the Fire:
Oft in soft Battels have I spent the Night,
Yet rose next Morning vig'rous for the Fight,
Fresh as the Day, and active as the Light:
No Maid, that ever under me took pay,
From my Embrace went unoblig'd away.
Bless'd he, who in Loves service yields his Breath,
Grant me, ye Gods, so sweet, so wish'd a Death!
In bloudy Fields let Souldiers meet their Fate,
To purchase dear bought Honour at the rate:
Let greedy Merchants trust the faithless Main,
And shipwrack Life and Soul for sordid gain:
Dying, let me expire in gasps of Lust,
And in a gush of Joy give up the Ghost:
And some kind pitying Friend shall say of me,
So did he live, and so deserv'd to die.