Flos Carmeli: I've Declared a Seventeenth Century

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January 10, 2003

I've Declared a Seventeenth Century

I've Declared a Seventeenth Century Day

Fortunately for you, what I declare has little bearing on the world at large. But I wanted to offer you all this wonderful and slight poem for your delectation, delight, and edification.

Mediocrity in Love Rejected Thomas Carew
� � � � � � � Give me more love or more disdain;
� � � � � � � ��The torrid, or the frozen zone,
� � � � � � � Bring equal ease unto my pain;
� � � � � � � ��The temperate affords me none;
� � � � � � � Either extreme, of love, or hate,
� � � � � � � Is sweeter than a calm estate.

� � � � � � � Give me a storm; if it be love,
� � � � � � � ��Like Danae in that golden show'r
� � � � � � � I swim in pleasure; if it prove
� � � � � � ��Disdain, that torrent will devour
� � � � � � My vulture-hopes; and he's possess'd
� � � � � � Of heaven, that's but from hell releas'd.
� � � � � � Then crown my joys, or cure my pain;
� � � � � � Give me more love, or more disdain.

Posted by Steven Riddle at January 10, 2003 8:26 AM