Claraphil and Clarinda :: :: University of Virginia Library

Leave thy salt lascivious Lover,
Is't no more but Come and Cover,
Love that is by Lust mislead,
Is Hellen drawn upon her head:
And the luxurious Garb is stranger
Than the Horse-tail tied to th' Manger:
That scorching Salamander kills his Sire,
VVho will confound his alimental Fire.

Although she be no Dame of Snow,
VVhich with every Smile will flow;

Or be transform'd (by brackish bloud)
From a Figure, to a Floud:
Her Love will last, when (after loathing)
Thy Marchpane Mistress melts to nothing:
Love is a Gem in the Celestial Crown,
A Diamond is never broke with Down.

Then cease to frisk it so like Elves,
And make French Monkeys of your selves;
VVhy should Cowardice prevail?
Valiant Men do nere turn tail:
Love is no Faction, the direct
And true Religion, is no Sect:
Luxurious Lovers do (like Rebells) frame
A War against their King in his own Name.

Virtue is a Virgins VVealth,
The Magazine of mental Health;
And (since Philosophy should be
The Hand-maid to Divinity)
Her sacred Sylogisms shall
Maintain, Lust is Apocriphal:
The party-colour'd Cod-piece then shall be
Struck dumb, with Farthing all Philosophy.

Your pincer-finger'd Souldier which
Doth deal in heat of bloud, and itch:
May, when the Dog-days do increase,
Court Venus in her Verdigrese;

Or finde some Tyndar-hearted Saint,
Where he may wallow in her Paint:
For such a piece of potent Pleasure can
(It's ten to one) charge both your Horse and Man.

Since Lust is nothing but the foul
And fierce Consumption of the Soul,
Let our embracing Spirits prove
The Joys of incorporeal Love;
Let Wantons in their wilde Desires
Call us Cupid's Crucifiers:
We will the Wonders of our Love reherse,
When Fire shall vitrifie the Universe.