AGAINST MARRIAGE TO HIS MISTRESS by WILLIAM WALSH (1663-1707)

YES, all the world must sure agree,
He who's secured of having thee,
Will be entirely blessed;
But 'twere in me too great a wrong,
To make one who has been so long
My queen, my slave at last.

Nor ought those things to be confined,
That were for public good designed:
Could we, in foolish pride,
Make the sun always with us stay,
'Twould burn our corn and grass away,
To starve the world beside.

Let not the thoughts of parting fright
Two souls which passion does unite;
For while our love does last,
Neither will strive to go away;
And why the devil should we stay,
When once that love is past?

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...