 | Carolina |  |
INCONSIDERATE LOVE.
Strephon's Arguments to Cœlia, to forsake Youth, Wealth, and Temperance, in his Rival, and to accept their Extreams in him.
1678.
To C. B. M.
Love
, that i'th' happy Age, a Monarch reign'd,
Is now by wealth in golden fetters chain'd.
His Altars once to Merit sacred were,
'Till Riches turn'd the World Idolater.
Hearts now by pairs, are like to Turtles, sold;
Love, Vowes, and Sacrifice all rul'd by Gold.
Now Cælia, now's the time to shew your worth,
And from Love's Temple drive the Bankers forth.
For whilst you seek to marry pelf to pelf,
You buy a Husband, but you sell your self.
Is now by wealth in golden fetters chain'd.
His Altars once to Merit sacred were,
'Till Riches turn'd the World Idolater.
Hearts now by pairs, are like to Turtles, sold;
Love, Vowes, and Sacrifice all rul'd by Gold.
Now Cælia, now's the time to shew your worth,
And from Love's Temple drive the Bankers forth.
For whilst you seek to marry pelf to pelf,
You buy a Husband, but you sell your self.
Fat soils bring Weeds; the cleanest Corn is found
In leaner Fields, if you well dress the ground.
Tho more of cost, yet more content is had
To build a House, than buy one ready made.
Philip of Spain did to no meanness fall,
From Cloister poor to raise th' Escureal.
Scorn not poor Strephon: you may be o'recome:
The thred-bare Gauls o're-ran triumphant Rome.
Sure honour he must gain in this hard Fight,
If he retreat not, whilst a Crown's in sight.
He need not fear white Wiggs nor downy Chins,
Who lose their leaves, before their fruit begins.
Yielding your self to such, you must decay,
And mony lend against your self to play.
There's no more dang'rous, no more frequent thing,
Than is a Surfeit of raw Love i'th' Spring.
When Love to his try'd Stomach must succeed,
And, like digested meat, new vigours breed.
Their ravenous Love with active motions blown,
(Like Fire) consumes what e're it preys upon.
His flames yet burns not; like æthereal Fire,
Whose nature is to last and to aspire.
Days may in Winter be both cool and fair;
And Fires in coldest seasons brightest are.
Love may sometimes seem sleepy in his breast:
Souls thus tow'rds Night compose themselves to rest
But wake more fresh, and with new vigours blest.
Youths burning-Feavers make 'em restless lye,
Consume their loves in vi'lent heats, and dye.
His Aguish-heats are temper'd well with cold;
Such Loves, like that Disease, will longest hold.
See now, fair Cælia, neither Wealth nor Youth
In leaner Fields, if you well dress the ground.
Tho more of cost, yet more content is had
To build a House, than buy one ready made.
Philip of Spain did to no meanness fall,
From Cloister poor to raise th' Escureal.
Scorn not poor Strephon: you may be o'recome:
The thred-bare Gauls o're-ran triumphant Rome.
Sure honour he must gain in this hard Fight,
If he retreat not, whilst a Crown's in sight.
201
Who lose their leaves, before their fruit begins.
Yielding your self to such, you must decay,
And mony lend against your self to play.
There's no more dang'rous, no more frequent thing,
Than is a Surfeit of raw Love i'th' Spring.
When Love to his try'd Stomach must succeed,
And, like digested meat, new vigours breed.
Their ravenous Love with active motions blown,
(Like Fire) consumes what e're it preys upon.
His flames yet burns not; like æthereal Fire,
Whose nature is to last and to aspire.
Days may in Winter be both cool and fair;
And Fires in coldest seasons brightest are.
Love may sometimes seem sleepy in his breast:
Souls thus tow'rds Night compose themselves to rest
But wake more fresh, and with new vigours blest.
Youths burning-Feavers make 'em restless lye,
Consume their loves in vi'lent heats, and dye.
His Aguish-heats are temper'd well with cold;
Such Loves, like that Disease, will longest hold.
Can true content secure, or vouch for truth.
In rich and beauteous Meads sweet Flowers grow;
His craggy Rocks have precious Stones below.
Unpractis'd Youth may lavish out Love's store,
Turn Bankrupt, and forsake you, being poor.
His Age will be so frugal not to waste
That treasure, but preserve it to the last.
No other Rival now sure dares advance,
Unless that thin-gut-chap-fall'n Temperance.
202
A meager Cassius you may justly fear,
Abstemious Zealots ruin'd England more,
Than all its jolly Heroes did before.
O Cœlia! ne'r to such become a Prey;
Make use of fleeting Joys whilst they will stay;
Since Life's confined to so short a day.
A right Good-Fellow daily whets delight,
Returning briskly as to th' Wedding Night.
Life's fed with Love; as Men with Oysters dine;
They cloy, if not digested well with Wine.
Heightned with mirth, and Sack, he entertains
His Spouse, with various sorts of pleasing Scenes.
Wit's requisite in Love, as in a Play;
To recompence the labour of the Day.
These Virtues, Cœlia, then in Strephon chuse;
And in all others their Extreams refuse.
Though he want Wealth, and Temperance, and Youth,
Yet he abounds in Merit, Wit, and Truth.
Or if to wed without those three y'are loth;
You have your self enough of them for both.
| Carolina | |