Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AGAINST FRUITION, by ABRAHAM COWLEY



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AGAINST FRUITION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: No; thou'rt a fool, I'le swear, if ere thou grant
Last Line: If once he lose his sting, he growes a drone.


NO; thou'rt a fool, I'le swear, if ere thou grant:
Much of my Veneration thou must want,
When once thy kindnesse puts my Ignorance out;
For a learn'd Age is alwaies least devout.
Keep still thy distance; for at once to me
Goddesse and Woman too, thou canst not be;
Thou'rt Queen of all that sees thee; and as such
Must neither Tyrannize, nor yeeld too much;
Such freedoms give as may admit command,
But keep the Forts and Magazines in thine hand.
Thou'rt yet a whole world to me, and dost fill
My large ambition; but 'tis dang'rous still,
Lest I like the Pellaean Prince should be,
And weep for other worlds, hav'ing conquerd thee;
When Love has taken all thou hast away,
His strength by too much Riches will decay.
Thou in my fancy dost much higher stand,
Then Women can be plac'd by Nature's hand;
And I must needs, I'me sure, a loser be,
To change Thee, as Thou'rt there, for very Thee.
Thy sweetnesse is so much within me plac'd,
That shouldst thou Nectar give, 'twould spoil the Taste.
Beauty at first moves wonder, and delight;
'Tis Nature's jugling trick to cheat the sight,
Wee admire it, whilst unknown, but after more
Admire our selves, for liking it before.
Love, like a greedy Hawke, if we give way,
Does over-gorge himselfe with his own Prey;
Of very hopes a surfeit he'le sustain,
Unlesse by fears he cast them up again:
His spirit and sweetnesse dangers keep alone;
If once he lose his sting, he growes a Drone.





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