WHENEVER, Chloe, I begin Your heart, like mine, to move, You tell me of the crying sin Of unchaste lawless love. How can that passion be a sin, Which gave to Chloe birth? How can those joys but be divine, Which make a heaven on earth? To wed, mankind the priests trepanned By some sly fallacy, And disobeyed God's great command, Increase and multiply. You say that love's a crime; content: Yet this allow you must, More joy's in heav'n if one repent, Than over ninety just. Sin then, dear girl, for heaven's sake, Repent and be forgiven; Eless me, and by repentance make A holy day in heaven. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AT THE SEASIDE by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON TO THE CUCKOO (1) by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH AIR: 'CAPTAIN JINKS' by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS THE ALCHEMIST by ST. CLAIR ADAMS THE LETTER; EDWARD ROWLAND SILL, DIED FEBRUARY 27, 1887 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE IVY; ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG FRIEND by BERNARD BARTON |