Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

What! Flavia, is your Bounty ceast,
With the poor Blisses I possest;
Possest, but as a Brother shou'd,
By halves you have been always good,
At least to me, when much I fear,
For others nothing is too dear.
Ah! Flavia, I would fain believe,
You are not skilful to deceive;
Such Youth from Artifice is free,
And you are only kind to me;

Tho' did you Love, as you profess,
You'd give me more, or give me less,
If you at first had us'd me ill,
You might with reason do it still;
You wou'd have had a mock excuse,
To torture me, or to refuse.
But when you can so far comply,
The rest 'tis folly to deny,
Unless uncommon ways you use,
And smile on those you would abuse.