Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO CAELIA'S AGUE; ODE, by CHARLES COTTON


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TO CAELIA'S AGUE; ODE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hence, fond disease, I say forbear
Last Line: Kind ague, make her long for me.
Subject(s): Love - Unrequited


I

HENCE, fond Disease, I say forbear,
And strive t' afflict my Fair no more,
In vain are thy attempts on her,
She was, alas! so cold before.

II

Yet thou at once, by sympathy,
Disturb'st two persons in one ill;
For when she freezes, then I fry,
And so complete her ague still.

III

Sure thou my choice would'st fain disgrace,
By making her look pale and green,
Had she no beauties, but her face,
I never had a lover been.

IV

For sparkling eyes, and rosy cheeks
Must, as her youth does fade, decay:
But virtue, which her bosom decks,
Will, when they're sunk and wither'd, stay.

V

Thou would'st eclipse that virtue too,
For such a triumph far too dear,
Making her tremble, as they do,
Whom jealous guilt has taught to fear.

VI

I wish thy malice might so thrive
To my advantage, as to shake
Her flinty breast, that I might live,
And on that part a battery make.

VII

But since assaults without some fire
Are seldom to perfection brought,
I may like thee baffled retire,
Thou hast her burning fit forgot.

VIII

Since thy attempts then never can
Achieve the power to destroy
This wonder, and delight of man,
Hence to some grosser body fly.

IX

Yet, as returning stomachs do
Still covet some one dish they see:
So when thou from my Fair do'st go
Kind Ague, make her long for me.





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