Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DITTY, by EDWARD HERBERT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DITTY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Why dost thou hate return instead of love
Last Line: I may triumph yet over fate and death.
Alternate Author Name(s): Cherbury, 1st Baron Herbert Of; Herbert Of Cherbury, Edward Herbert, 1st Baron; Herbert Of Cherbury, Lord


WHY dost thou hate return instead of love,
And with such merciless despite
My faith and hope requite?
Oh! if th' affection cannot move,
Learn innocence yet of the dove,
And thy disdain to juster bounds confine;
Or if t'wards man thou equally decline
The rules of justice and of mercy too,
Thou mayst thy love to such a point refine,
As it will kill more than thy hate can do.

Love, love, Melaina, then, though death ensue,
Yet [if] it is a greater fate
To die through love than hate,
Rather a victory pursue,
To beauty's lawful conquest due,
Than tyrant eyes envenom with disdain;
Or if thy power thou wouldst so maintain,
As equally to be both lov'd and dread,
Let timely kisses call to life again
Him whom thy eyes have planet-strucken dead.

Kiss, kiss, Melaina, then, and do not stay
Until these sad effects appear
Which now draw on so near,
That didst thou longer help delay,
My soul must fly so fast away,
As would at once both life and love divorce;
Or if I needs must die without remorse,
Kiss and embalm me so with that sweet breath,
That while thou triumph'st o'er Love and his force,
I may triumph yet over Fate and Death.





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