 | The poems of John Wilmot: Earl of Rochester |  |
Against Constancy.
Tell me no more of constancy,
that frivolous pretence,
Of cold age, narrow jealousie,
disease and want of sence.
that frivolous pretence,
Of cold age, narrow jealousie,
disease and want of sence.
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Let duller fools on whom kind chance
some easie heart has thrown,
Despairing higher to advance,
be kind to one alone.
some easie heart has thrown,
Despairing higher to advance,
be kind to one alone.
Old men and weak, whose idle flame,
their own defects discovers,
Since changing can but spread their shame,
ought to be constant lovers;
their own defects discovers,
Since changing can but spread their shame,
ought to be constant lovers;
But we, whose hearts do justly swell,
with no vain-glorious pride,
Who know how we in love excell,
long to be often try'd.
with no vain-glorious pride,
Who know how we in love excell,
long to be often try'd.
Then bring my Bath, and strew my bed,
as each kind night returns,
Ile change a Mistress till i'me dead,
and fate change me for worms.
as each kind night returns,
Ile change a Mistress till i'me dead,
and fate change me for worms.
| The poems of John Wilmot: Earl of Rochester | |