Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OLD TITYRUS TO EUGENIA, by CHARLES COTTON


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OLD TITYRUS TO EUGENIA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Eugenia, young, and fair and sweet
Last Line: Keep but state now, and keep 't hereafter too.
Subject(s): Love


I

EUGENIA, young, and fair and sweet,
The glories of the plains,
In thee alone the graces meet
To conquer all the swains:
Tall as the poplar of the grove,
Straight as the winged shaft of Love,
As the Spring's early blossoms white,
Soft as the kisses of the light,
Serene and modest as the morn,
E'er vapours do from fens arise,
To dim the glory of the skies,
Untainted, or with pride, or scorn,
T' oblige the world, bright Nymph, thou sure wast born.

II

O! be still fair, thou charming Maid,
For Beauty is no crime;
May thy youth's flower never fade,
But still be in its prime:
Be calm, and clear, and modest still,
Oblige as many as you will,
Still, still be humble, still be sweet;
By those ways conquer all you meet;
But let them see 'tis undesign'd,
Nat'ral virtues, not put on
To make a prize of any one,
The native goodness of your mind,
And have a care of being over-kind:

III

That's (my Eugenia) a mistake
That noblest ardours cools,
And serves on th' other side to make
Damn'd over-weening fools.
Be courteous unto all, and free,
As far as virgin modesty;
Be not too shy, but have a care
Of being too familiar;
The swain you entertain alone,
To whom you lend your hand or lip,
Will think he has you on the hip,
And straight conclude you are his own,
Women so easy, men so vain are grown.

IV

Reserv'dness is a mighty friend
To form and virtue too,
A shining merit should pretend
To such a star as you;
'Tis not a roundelay well play'd,
A song well sung, a thing well said,
A fall well giv'n, a bar well thrown,
Should carry such a lovely one.
Should these knacks win you, you will be
(Of all the Nymphs that with their beams
Gild swift Columba's crystal streams)
Lost to the World, your self and me,
And more despis'd than freckled Lalage.

V

Maintain a modest kind of state,
'Tis graceful in a Maid;
It does at least respect create,
And makes the fools afraid.
Eugenia, you must pitch upon
A Sylvia, not a Corydon;
'Twould grate my soul to see those charms
In an unworthy Shepherd's arms.
A little coldness (Girl) will do,
Let baffled Lovers call it pride,
Pride's an excess o' th' better side,
Contempt to arrogance is due,
Keep but state now, and keep 't hereafter too.





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