 | A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects |  |
23
Love's Definition.
The Author being press'd to shew his Mind,
What is true Love, what not, hath here defin'd.
What is true Love, what not, hath here defin'd.
I call not that true Love, which can admit
Of Heats and Colds like to an Ague-fit;
Those Rivers which, their Banks do overflow,
In a few Hours their empty Channels show.
Of Heats and Colds like to an Ague-fit;
Those Rivers which, their Banks do overflow,
In a few Hours their empty Channels show.
That's not true Love, that's grounded upon Wealth,
Or hath the least Regard to worldly Pelf;
For such an one, might he his End obtain,
Would prostitute his very Wife for Gain.
Or hath the least Regard to worldly Pelf;
For such an one, might he his End obtain,
Would prostitute his very Wife for Gain.
Nor can he with true Lovers have a Place,
Who's Love depends upon some pretty Face,
Which Age or Sickness having once defac'd,
The very Ground-work of his Love is raz'd.
Who's Love depends upon some pretty Face,
Which Age or Sickness having once defac'd,
The very Ground-work of his Love is raz'd.
And since that sordid Thing Self-Interest,
Is able to defile the chastest Breast,
If not prevented; therefore I declare,
That it and true Love inconsistent are.
Is able to defile the chastest Breast,
If not prevented; therefore I declare,
That it and true Love inconsistent are.
24
Such Marks as these, I could add many more
Like Watch-tow'rs, tending to forewarn the jolly
But young unskilful Mariners, before
They split their Vessels on the Rocks of Folly.
Like Watch-tow'rs, tending to forewarn the jolly
But young unskilful Mariners, before
They split their Vessels on the Rocks of Folly.
But for this Theme let this suffice, while I,
Tir'd with the Subject, borrow Wings and fly
Into an higher Orb, where I may view,
That Love who's choicest Epithet is true.
Tir'd with the Subject, borrow Wings and fly
Into an higher Orb, where I may view,
That Love who's choicest Epithet is true.
That I call Love, that only Love I call,
Whose Birth appears to be Cælestial;
That, and that only, I account true Love,
Which in the Sphere of Chastity doth move.
Whose Birth appears to be Cælestial;
That, and that only, I account true Love,
Which in the Sphere of Chastity doth move.
He's a true Lover (not who can subdue,
Monsters and Giants for his Mistress Sake,
And sighs perhaps and weep, with much ado,
For fear she should some other happy make;
Monsters and Giants for his Mistress Sake,
And sighs perhaps and weep, with much ado,
For fear she should some other happy make;
But) who so far her Happiness prefers
Before his own, that he can be content
To sacrifice his own to purchase hers,
Tho' with the Price of his own Banishment.
Before his own, that he can be content
To sacrifice his own to purchase hers,
Tho' with the Price of his own Banishment.
25
A hearty Lover wholly doth devote
Himself, to make her happy whom he loves,
And doth with Might and Main her Good promote,
Altho' destructive to his Hopes it proves.
Himself, to make her happy whom he loves,
And doth with Might and Main her Good promote,
Altho' destructive to his Hopes it proves.
He that loves truly, loves to that Degree,
Whatever Notions Libertines may spread,
That he would be content, yea, joy to see
His Mistress bless some worthier Person's Bed.
Whatever Notions Libertines may spread,
That he would be content, yea, joy to see
His Mistress bless some worthier Person's Bed.
Nor can true Love to Hatred ever turn,
Although it never should Acceptance find,
But like a Lamp, clear to the last would burn,
And thereby manifest a noble Mind.
Although it never should Acceptance find,
But like a Lamp, clear to the last would burn,
And thereby manifest a noble Mind.
Such amorous Motions then conclude we must,
How speciously so ever they are deckt,
Proceed not from true Love, but filthy Lust,
Which each chaste Breast should study to reject.
How speciously so ever they are deckt,
Proceed not from true Love, but filthy Lust,
Which each chaste Breast should study to reject.
| A Collection of Poems on Various Subjects | |