COME, Phyllis, gentle Phyllis! prithee come, I have a glass of rich old wine at home, And in my garden curious flowers do grow, That languish to adorn thy brow. The ivy and the yellow crowfoot there With verdant chaplets wait to braid thy hair; With silver goblets all my house does shine, And vervain round my altar twine, On which the best of all my flock shall bleed; Come, and observe with what officious speed Each lad and lass of all my house attends Till to my roof the smoke ascends. If thou wouldst know why thou must be my guest, I tell thee 'tis to celebrate a Feast, The Ides of April, which have ever been Devoted to the Cyprian Queen. A day more sacred, and more fit for mirth Than that which gave me (worthless mortal) birth: For on that day Maecenas first saw light, Born for our wonder and delight. My Phyllis, since thy years come on apace, Substitute me in Telephus his place, He's now employ'd by one more rich, more fair, And proudly does her shackles wear. Remember what became of Phaeton; Remember what befell Bellerophon; That by ambition from his Father's throne, And this, by Pegasus thrown down. Content thyself with what is fit for thee, Happy that couple that in years agree! Shun others, and accept my parity, And I will end my loves with thee. Thou art the last whom I intend to court, Come then; and (to prepare thee for the sport) Learn prick-song, and my merry odes rehearse: Many a care is charm'd by verse. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE AT [OR AFTER] CORUNNA by CHARLES WOLFE AN UNANSWERABLE APOLOGY FOR THE RICH by MARY BARBER AN EASTER OFFERING by NANCY A. BASTON QUATORZAINS: 9. TO MY LYRE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES SPHINX-MONEY by MATHILDE BLIND ON THE YANGSTE KIANG by BERTON BRALEY AN ELEGY ON SIR THOMAS OVERBURY; POISONED IN THE TOWER OF LONDON by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |