Poems and translations with the Sophy / written by the Honourable Sir John Denham, Knight of the Bath.

Friendship and single life against Love and Marriage.

1.

LOve! in what poyson is thy Dart Dipt, when it makes a bleeding heart? None know, but they who feel the smart.

2.

It is not thou, but we are blind, And our corporeal eyes (we find) Dazle the Opticks of our Mind.

3.

Love to our Cittadel resorts, Through those deceitful Sally-ports, Our Sentinels betray our Forts.

4.

What subtle Witchcraft man constrains, To change his Pleasures into Pains, And all his freedom into Chains?

5.

May not a Prison, or a Grave Like Wedlock, Honour's title have? That word makes Free-born man a Slave.

6.

How happy he that loves not, lives! Him neither Hope nor Fear deceives, To Fortune who no Hostage gives.

7.

How unconcern'd in things to come! If here uneasie, finds at Rome, At Paris, or Madrid his Home.

8.

Secure from low, and private Ends, His Life, his Zeal, his Wealth attends His Prince, his Country, and his Friends.

9.

Danger, and Honour are his Joy; But a fond Wife, or wanton Boy, May all those Generous Thoughts destroy.

10.

Then he lays by the publick Care, Thinks of providing for an Heir; Learns how to get, and how to spare.

11.

Nor fire, nor foe, nor fate, nor night, The Trojan Hero did affright, Who bravely twice renew'd the fight.

12.

Though still his foes in number grew, Thicker their Darts, and Arrows flew, Yet left alone, no fear he knew.

13.

But Death in all her forms appears, From every thing he sees and hears, For whom he leads, and whom he bears.* 1.1

14.

Love making all things else his Foes, Like a fierce torrent overflows Whatever doth his course oppose.

15.

This was the cause the Poets sung, Thy Mother from the Sea was sprung; But they were mad to make thee young.

16.

Her Father, not her Son, art thou: From our desires our actions grow; And from the Cause the Effect must flow.

17.

Love is as old as place or time; 'Twas he the fatal Tree did climb, Grandsire of Father Adam's crime.

18.

Well mayst thou keep this world in awe, Religion, Wisdom, Honour, Law, The tyrant in his triumph draw.

19.

'Tis he commands the Powers above; Phoebus resigns his Darts, and Iove His Thunder to the God of Love.

20.

To him doth his feign'd Mother yield, Nor Mars (her Champions) flaming shield Guards him, when Cupid takes the Field.

21.

He clips hopes wings, whose aery bliss Much higher than fruition is; But less than nothing, if it miss.

22.

When matches Love alone projects, The Cause transcending the Effects, That wild-fire's quencht in cold neglects.

23.

Whilst those Conjunctions prove the best, Where Love's of blindness dispossest, By perspectives of Interest.

24.

Though Solomon with a thousand wives, To get a wise Successor strives, But one (and he a Fool) survives.

25.

Old Rome of Children took no care, They with their Friends their beds did share, Secure, t'adopt a hopeful Heir.

26.

Love drowsie days, and stormy nights Makes, and breaks Friendship, whose delights Feed, but not glut our Appetites.

27.

Well chosen Friendship, the most noble Of Vertues, all our joys makes double, And into halves divides our trouble.

28.

But when the unlucky knot we tye, Care, Avarice, Fear, and Jealousie Make Friendship languish till it dye.

29.

The Wolf, the Lyon, and the Bear When they their prey in pieces tear, To quarrel with themselves forbear.

30.

Yet timerous Deer, and harmless Sheep When Love into their veins doth creep, That law of Nature cease to keep.

31.

Who then can blame the Amorous Boy, Who the Fair Helen to enjoy, To quench his own, set fire on Troy?

32.

Such is the worlds preposterous fate, Amongst all Creatures, mortal hate Love (though immortal) doth Create.

33.

But Love may Beasts excuse, for they Their actions not by Reason sway, But their brute appetites obey.

34.

But Man's that Savage Beast, whose mind From Reason to self-Love declin'd, Delights to prey upon his Kind.

Notes

• * 1.1

  His Father and Son.