The general lover—An Ovidian rhapsody.
jaques. The worst fault you have is to be in love.
orlando. It is a fault I would not change for your best virtue.
Though I may be inconstant to Elizabeth, Betty, and Bess, I am never inconstant to love. But I will not defend myself. No, if it would do any good to confess, I own my fault, and will say that I hate myself for it; but I must add, that though I wish it, I cannot be otherwise than what I hate. I am borne along like a vessel in a rapid current, impelled by wind and tide—I know not what form delights me most, therefore the causes are endless, why I can never cease to love.
If modest the nymph, with her eyes in her lap,
Her blushing's enough, I am caught in the trap.
If she is high spirited I am won, because she is not rustic.—Is she austere,—I think her willing, but an admirable dissembler.
If learned, than riches I prize it above,
If not, sweet simplicity, O, how I love!
Is there one who prefers my writings to those of the salacious warbler, the wanton lacivious little Moore? She to whom I am pleasing is ever pleasing to me. If she hates both me and my works, I long to give her reason to think differently of both. This fair one walks with grace, her graces captivate me; that sings, and her voice flows like honey from her lips; I pant to kiss the hive from which such honey flows. Her brilliant fingers sweep the chords: Who can but love such well-instructed fingers?—To love in every shape I bend my knees.
Though her figure heroic would fill the whole bed,
For me there'd be room where I'd lay my fond head.