John Dryden (1631-1700)
You charm'd me not with that fair face
1You charm'd me not with that fair face
2 Though it was all divine:
3To be another's is the grace,
4 That makes me wish you mine.
5 The Gods and Fortune take their part
6 Who like young monarchs fight;
7And boldly dare invade that heart
8 Which is another's right.
9 First mad with hope we undertake
10 To pull up every bar;
11But once possess'd, we faintly make
12 A dull defensive war.
13 Now every friend is turn'd a foe
14 In hope to get our store:
15And passion makes us cowards grow,
16 Which made us brave before.
Notes
1] From An Evening's Love, Act II, scene i.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: John Dryden, An Evening's love (London: T. N. for Henry Herringman, 1671). Wing 2273
First publication date:
1668
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 2RP 1.480.
Recent editing: 4:2002/4/3
Form: Hymnal Measure
Rhyme: abab
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