Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE VAIN LOVE, by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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THE VAIN LOVE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: What new-found witchcraft was in thee
Last Line: Who first lov'd vainly, next in vaine?
Subject(s): Love - Unrequited


Loving one first because she could love no body,
afterwards loving her with desire.

WHat new-found Witchcraft was in thee,
With thine own Cold to kindle Mee?
Strange art! like him that should devise
To make a Burning-Glasse of Ice;
When Winter, so, the Plants would harme,
Her snow it selfe does keep them warme;
Fool that I was! who having found
A rich and Sunny Diamond,
Admir'd the hardnesse of the Stone,
But not the light with which it shone:
Your brave and haughty scorn of all
Was stately, and Monarchicall.
All Gentlenesse, with that esteem'd,
A dull and slavish vertue seem'd;
Should you have yielded then to me,
You had lost what most I lov'd in thee;
For who would serve one, whom he sees
That he can Conquer if he please?
It far'd with me, as if a slave
In Triumph led, that does perceive
With what a gay Majestick pride
His Conqueror through the streets does ride,
Should be contented with his woe,
Which makes up such a comely show.
I sought not from thee a returne,
But without Hopes or Fears did burn;
My covetous Passion did approve
The Hoording up, not Use of Love.
My Love a kind of Dream was grown,
A Foolish, but a Pleasant one:
From which I'me wakened now, but, oh,
Prisoners to dy are wakened so.
For now my Fires and Wishes are
Nothing, but Longings with Despair.
Despair, whose Torments no men sure
But Lovers and the Damn'd, endure.
Her scorn I doted once upon,
Ill Object for Affection,
But since, alas, too much 'tis prov'd,
That yet 'twas something that I lov'd;
Now my desires are worse, and flee,
At any Impossibility:
Desires, which whilst so high they soare,
Are proud as that I lov'd before.
What Lover can like me complain,
Who first lov'd vainly, next in vaine?





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