Page:Poems and lyrics of the joy of earth.djvu/162

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146
POEMS AND LYRICS.

XXXIII.

A plain safe intermediate way is cleft
By reason foiling passion: you that rave
Of mad alternatives to right and left
Echo the tempter, madam: and 'tis due
Unto your sex to shun it as the grave,
This later apple offered you.

XXXIV.

This apple is not ripe, it is not sweet;
Nor rosy, sir, nor golden: eye and mouth
Are little wooed by it; yet we would eat:
We are somewhat tired of Eden, is our plea:
We have thirsted long: this apple suits our drouth:
'Tis good for men to halve, think we.