Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE THIEF, by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE THIEF, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou robb'st my days of business and delights
Last Line: But to torment men, not to give them blisse.
Subject(s): Love


1.

THou rob'st my Daies of bus'nesse and delights.
Of sleep thou rob'st my Nights;
Ah, Lovely Thiefe, what wilt thou doe?
What? Rob me of Heaven too?
Thou, even my prayers thou hauntest me;
And I, with wild Idolatry,
Begin, to God, and end them all, to Thee.

2.

Is it a Sinne to Love, that it should thus,
Like an ill Conscience, torture us?
What ere I do, where ere I go,
(None Guiltlesse ere was haunted so)
Still, still, methinks thy face I view,
And still thy shape does me pursue,
As if, not you Mee, but I had murthered You.

3.

From books I strive some remedy to take,
But thy Name all the Letters make;
What ere 'tis writ, I find that there,
Like Points and Comma's every where,
Me blest for this let no man hold;
For I, as Midas did of old,
Perish by turning every thing to Gold.

4.

What do I seek, alas, or why do I
Attempt in vain from thee to fly;
From making thee my Deitie,
I gave thee then Ubiquitie.
My pains resemble Hell in this;
The divine presence there too is,
But to torment Men, not 4.

What do I seek, alas, or why do I
Attempt in vain from thee to fly;
From making thee my Deitie,
I gave thee then Ubiquitie.
My pains resemble Hell in this;
The divine presence there too is,
But to torment Men, not to give them blisse.





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