Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO HIS BOOK, by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO HIS BOOK, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Go, little book, and to the world impart
Last Line: What's built upon esteem can ne'er decay.
Subject(s): Books; Reading


GO, little book, and to the world impart
The faithful image of an am'rous heart;
Those who love's dear, deluding pains have known,
May in my fatal stories read their own.
Those who have lived from all its torments free,
May find the thing they never felt, by me;
Perhaps, advis'd, avoid the gilded bait,
And warn'd by my example, shun my fate.
While with calm joy, safe landed on the coast,
I view the waves on which I once was toss'd.
Love is a medley of endearments, jars,
Suspicions, quarrels, reconcilements, wars;
Then peace again. Oh! would it not be best
To chase the fatal poison from our breast?
But since so few can live from passion free,
Happy the man, and only happy he,
Who with such lucky stars begins his love,
That his cool judgment does his choice approve.
Ill-grounded passions quickly wear away;
What's built upon esteem can ne'er decay.





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