 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
To Ælia.
ODE.
Poor antiquated Slut, forbear,
Thy Importunity's so strong,
It will, I fear, corrupt the Air,
And doe an universal wrong.
Thy Importunity's so strong,
It will, I fear, corrupt the Air,
And doe an universal wrong.
144
Be modest, or I swear and vow,
I neither can nor will be kind;
Pox on't! now thou dost clam'rous grow,
There's no enduring in the wind.
I neither can nor will be kind;
Pox on't! now thou dost clam'rous grow,
There's no enduring in the wind.
Whilst silence did thy thoughts betray,
I only was the sufferer;
But now thy Lungs begin to play,
All the whole Province suffers here.
I only was the sufferer;
But now thy Lungs begin to play,
All the whole Province suffers here.
Faith, Ælia, if thou be'st so hot,
That nor Satiety, nor Age,
Can cool the over-boiling Pot,
Nor thy ebullient Lust assuage,
That nor Satiety, nor Age,
Can cool the over-boiling Pot,
Nor thy ebullient Lust assuage,
Yet be so charitably kind,
Though damn'd thou art resolv'd to be,
As not to poyson all Mankind
By fulsome importunity.
Though damn'd thou art resolv'd to be,
As not to poyson all Mankind
By fulsome importunity.
145
But sure 'tis time we should give o'er,
And if I mourn my time mispent,
How much for fifty years of Whore
Ought'st thou, poor Ælia, to repent?
And if I mourn my time mispent,
How much for fifty years of Whore
Ought'st thou, poor Ælia, to repent?
Yet, if in spight of all advice
Thou needs wilt importune me still,
I am not so reclaim'd from Vice,
But I can satisfie thy will:
Thou needs wilt importune me still,
I am not so reclaim'd from Vice,
But I can satisfie thy will:
And 'twill to my advantage be;
For should I new amours begin,
Delight might damn me, when with thee
The penance expiates the sin.
For should I new amours begin,
Delight might damn me, when with thee
The penance expiates the sin.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |