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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR by ROSSITER WORTHINGTON RAYMOND ON THE DEATH OF A METAPHYSICIAN by GEORGE SANTAYANA IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 23 by ALFRED TENNYSON THE WILD DUCK'S NEST by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH EMIGRATION by LISA DOMINGUEZ ABRAHAM THE STRANGER by LAWRENCE ALMA-TADEMA |