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Poems on Several Occasions

Written by Charles Cotton

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Stanzes de Monsieur Bertaud.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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147

Stanzes de Monsieur Bertaud.

I

Whilst wishing Heaven in his ire
Would punish with some judgment dire
This heart to love so obstinate;
To say I love her is to lie,
Though I do love t'extremity,
Since thus to love her is to hate.

II

But since from this my hatred springs,
That she neglects my Sufferings,
And is unto my love ingrate,
My hatred is so full of flame,
Since from affection first it came,
That 'tis to love her thus to hate.

148

III

I wish that milder Love, or Death,
That ends our Miseries with our breath,
Would my affections terminate;
For to my Soul, depriv'd of peace,
It is a torment worse than these
Thus wretchedly to love and hate.

IV

Let Love be gentle or severe,
It is in vain to hope or fear
His grace or rage in this estate,
Being I from my fair one's Spirit
Nor mutual love, nor hatred merit,
Thus foolishly to love and hate.

149

V

Or, if by my example here
It just and equal do appear,
She love and loath who is my fate,
Grant me, ye powers, in this case,
Both for my punishment and grace,
That as I do, she love and hate.