LOVE by HENRY BAKER

LOVE'S an headstrong wild desireTo possess what we admire:
Hurrying on without reflecting,
All that's just or wise neglecting.
Pain or pleasure it is neither,
But excess of both together;
Now, addressing, cringing, whining,
Vowing, fretting, weeping, pining,
Murm'ring, languishing and sighing,
Mad, despairing, raving, dying:
Now, caressing, laughing, toying,
Fondling, kissing and enjoying.
Always in extremes abiding,
Without measure, fond or chiding:
Either furious with possessing,
Or despairing of the blessing:
Now transported; now tormented;
Still uneasy; ne'er contented.
None can tell its rise or progress,
Or its ingress or its egress,
Whether by a look produced,
Or by sympathy infused.
Fancy does so well maintain it,
Weaker reason can't restrain it,
But is forced to fly before it,
Or else worship and adore it.

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