The works of John Dryden Illustrated with notes, historical, critical, and explanatory, and a life of the author, by Sir Walter Scott |
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 | The works of John Dryden |  |
338
EPILOGUE TO MITHRIDATES, KING OF PONTUS,
BY MR. N. LEE, 1678.
You've seen a pair of faithful lovers die;And much you care; for most of you will cry,
'Twas a just judgment on their constancy.
For, heaven be thanked, we live in such an age,
When no man dies for love but on the stage:
And e'en those martyrs are but rare in plays;
A cursed sign how much true faith decays.
Love is no more a violent desire;
'Tis a mere metaphor, a painted fire.
In all our sex, the name examined well,
'Tis pride to gain, and vanity to tell.
In woman, 'tis of subtle interest made;
Curse on the punk, that made it first a trade!
She first did wit's prerogative remove,
And make a fool presume to prate of love.
Let honour and preferment go for gold,
But glorious beauty is not to be sold;
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That nothing but adoring it should buy.
Yet the rich cullies may their boasting spare;
They purchase but sophisticated ware.
'Tis prodigality that buys deceit,
Where both the giver and the taker cheat.
Men but refine on the old half-crown way;
And women fight, like Swizzers, for their pay.
| The works of John Dryden | |