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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE EXPOSTULATION by CHARLES COTTON

Poet Analysis

First Line: HAVE I LOV'D MY FAIR SO LONG
Last Line: TO CRUEL AND UNTIMELY END.
Subject(s): LOVE;
I

HAVE I lov'd my Fair so long,
Six Olympiads at least,
And to youth and beauty's wrong,
On virtue's single interest,
To be at last with scorn oppress'd?

II

Have I lov'd that space so true,
Without looking once awry,
Lest I might prove false to you,
To whom I vow'd fidelity,
To be repay'd with cruelty?

III

Were you not, oh Sweet! confess,
Willing to be so belov'd?
Favour gave my flame increase,
By which it still aspiring mov'd,
And had gone out, if disapprov'd.

IV

Whence then can this change proceed?
Say; or whither does it tend?
That false heart will one day bleed,
When it has brought so true a friend
To cruel and untimely end.



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