Let me be warm, let me be fully fed,
Luxurious love by wealth is nourished.
Let me be lean, and cold, and once grown poor,
I shall dislike what once I lov'd before.
94. TO HIS MISTRESS.
Choose me your valentine,
Next let us marry—
Love to the death will pine
If we long tarry.
Promise, and keep your vows,
Or vow ye never—
Love's doctrine disallows
Troth-breakers ever.
You have broke promise twice,
Dear, to undo me,
If you prove faithless thrice
None then will woo ye.
95. TO THE GENEROUS READER.
See and not see, and if thou chance t'espy
Some aberrations in my poetry,
Wink at small faults; the greater, ne'ertheless,
Hide, and with them their father's nakedness.
Let's do our best, our watch and ward to keep;
Homer himself, in a long work, may sleep.
96. TO CRITICS.
I'll write, because I'll give
You critics means to live;
For should I not supply
The cause, th' effect would die.