The Poems of Charles Sackville Sixth Earl of Dorset: Edited by Brice Harris |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
 | IV. |
To Phyllis
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| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
 | The Poems of Charles Sackville |  |
69
To Phyllis
71
Have forc'd me from my Celia's arms,
That sure defence against all powers
But those resistless eyes of yours,
Think not your conquest to maintain
By rigor or unjust disdain.
In vain, fair nymph, in vain you strive
For love does seldom hope survive;
My heart may languish for a time,
While all your glories in their prime
May justify such cruelty
By the same force that conquer'd me.
When age shall come, at whose command
Those troops of beauties must disband,
A tyrant's strength once took away,
What slave so dull as to obey?
Those threatening dangers to remove,
Make me believe at least you love;
Dissemble well and by that art
Preserve and govern still my heart.
But if you'll choose another way
To save your empire from decay,
Oh then forever fix your throne:
Be kind, but kind to me alone.
| The Poems of Charles Sackville | |