Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ACHILLIS AMATORES: MELTING ICE by SOPHOCLES

First Line: LOVE IS A PAIN WITH PUREST JOY COMBINED
Last Line: TO LOVE AND NOT-LOVE BY THE SAME DESIRE.
LOVE is a pain with purest joy combined:
No bad comparison to Love I'll find --
Boys when the heavens are frosty, in a trice
Will take a handful of hard-frozen ice;
And first it's all delight and wonder, then
The lump no more will be let go again,
Nor yet be pretty treasure to retain.
Even so with lovers, when their hearts require
To love and not-love by the same desire.



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