90
COWLEY'S POEMS.
My soul at first indeed did prove
Of pretty strength against a dart,
Till I this habit got of love;
But my consum'd and wasted heart,
Once burnt to tinder with a strong desire,
Since that, by every spark is set on fire.
Of pretty strength against a dart,
Till I this habit got of love;
But my consum'd and wasted heart,
Once burnt to tinder with a strong desire,
Since that, by every spark is set on fire.
THE CONSTANT.
Great and wise conqueror, who, where'er
Thou com'st, dost fortify, and settle there!
Who canst defend as well as get,
And never hadst one quarter beat-up yet;
Now thou art in, thou ne'er wilt part
With one inch of my vanquish'd heart;
For, since thou took'st it by assault from me,
’Tis garrison'd so strong with thoughts of thee,
It fears no beauteous enemy.
Thou com'st, dost fortify, and settle there!
Who canst defend as well as get,
And never hadst one quarter beat-up yet;
Now thou art in, thou ne'er wilt part
With one inch of my vanquish'd heart;
For, since thou took'st it by assault from me,
’Tis garrison'd so strong with thoughts of thee,
It fears no beauteous enemy.
Had thy charming strength been less,
I'ad serv'd ere this an hundred mistresses:
I'm better thus, nor would compound
To leave my prison to be a vagabond:
A prison in which I still would be,
Though every door stood ope to me.
In spite both of thy coldness and thy pride,
All love is marriage on thy lover's side,
For only death can them divide.
I'ad serv'd ere this an hundred mistresses:
I'm better thus, nor would compound
To leave my prison to be a vagabond:
A prison in which I still would be,
Though every door stood ope to me.
In spite both of thy coldness and thy pride,
All love is marriage on thy lover's side,
For only death can them divide.
