Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PARAPHRASED, by THOMAS RANDOLPH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

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First Line: Ah, wretch! In thy corinna's love unblest!
Last Line: His and her breast, or his and hers a cold.


AH, wretch! in thy Corinna's love unblest!
How strange a fancy doth torment thy breast!
When she desires to sport, thou sayest her nay;
When she denies, then thou desir'st to play.
Love burns you both (O, 'tis a happy turn!)
But 'tis at several times love doth both burn.
When scorching heat hath Corydon's heart possest,
Then reigns a frost in cold Corinna's breast;
And when a frost in Corydon doth reign,
Then is Corinna's breast on fire again.
Why then with Corydon is it summer prime,
When with Corinna it is winter-time?
Or why should then Corinna's summer be
When it is winter, Corydon, with thee?
Can ice from fire, or fire from ice proceed?
Ah! jest not, love, in so severe a deed!
I bid thee not Corydon's flame to blow
Clean out, nor clean to melt Corinna's snow.
Burn both! freeze both! let mutual fervour hold
His and her breast, or his and hers a cold.





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