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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DIALOGUE by THOMAS RANDOLPH

Poet Analysis

First Line: MY LALAGE, WHEN I BEHOLD
Last Line: AND THOU CANST MAKE US FREEZE BENEATH THE LINE.
Subject(s): PASSION;
THIRSIS. LALAGE.

@3Thir.@1 MY Lalage, when I behold
So great a cold,
And not a spark of heat in thy desire,
I wonder what strange power of thine
Kindles in mine
So bright a flame, and such a burning fire.

@3Lal.@1 Can Thirsis in philosophy
A true knight be,
And not have learn'd the power of the sun?
How he to sublunary things
A fervour brings,
Yet in himself is subject unto none?

@3Thir.@1 But why within thy eyes appear
Never a tear,
That cause from mine perpetual showers to fall?
@3Lal.@1 Fool, 'tis the power of fire, you know,
To melt the snow,
Yet has no moisture in itself at all.

@3Thir.@1 How can I be, dear virgin, show,
Both fire and snow?
Do you, that are the cause, the reason tell;
More than [a] miracle to me
It seems to be,
That so much heat with so much cold should dwell.

@3Lal.@1 The reason I will render thee
Why both should be.
Audacious Thirsis, in thy love too bold,
'Cause thy sauciness durst aspire
To such a fire.
Thy love is hot; but 'tis thy hope is cold.

@3Thir.@1 Let pity move thy gentle breast
To one opprest;
This way or that, give ease to my desire,
And either let love's fire be lost
In hope's cold frost,
Or hope's cold frost be warm'd in love's quick fire.

@3Lal@1. O, neither, boy, neither of these
Shall work thy ease!
I'll pay thy rashness with immortal pain:
As hope doth strive to freeze thy flame,
Love melts the same:
As love doth melt it, hope doth freeze't again.

@3Thir@1. Come, gentle swains, lend me a groan
To ease my moan.
@3Chorus@1. Ah, cruel Love, how great a power is thine!
Under the poles although we lie,
Thou mak'st us fry:
And thou canst make us freeze beneath the line.



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