ODE TO A LOVER,
BY SIR JOHN SUCKLING.
I.
Honest lover whosoever,
If in all thy love was ever
One wav’ring thought; if e’er thy flame
Were not still even, still the same,—
Know this,
Thou lov’st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.
II.
If, when she appears i’ th’ room,
Thou dost not quake, and art struck dumb;
And, in striving this to cover,
Dost not speak thy words twice over,—
Know this,
Thou lov’st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.
III.
If, fondly, thou dost not mistake,
And all defects for graces take,
Persuad’st thyself that jests are broken,
When she has little or nothing spoken,—
Know this,
Thou lov’st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.
IV.
If, when thou appear’st to be within,
Thou let’st not men ask and ask again;
And when thou answer’st, if it be
To what was ask’d thee, properly,—
Know this,
Thou lov’st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.
V.
If, when thy stomach calls to eat,
Thou cut’st not fingers ’stead of meat;
And with much gazing on her face,
Dost not rise hungry from the place,—
Know this,
Thou lov’st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.
VI.
If, by this thou dost discover
That thou art no perfect lover;
And desiring to love true,
Thou dost begin to love anew,—
Know this,
Thou lov’st amiss;
And to love true,
Thou must begin again, and love anew.—Ed.]