The Works of Abraham Cowley/Volume 2/The Vain Love
THE VAIN LOVE.
Loving one first because she could love Nobody, afterwards loving her with Desire.
What new-found witchcraft was in thee,With thine own cold to kindle me?Strange art! like him that should deviseTo make a burning-glass of ice:When winter so, the plants would harm,Her snow itself does keep them warm.Fool that I was! who, having foundA rich and sunny diamond,Admir'd the hardness of the stone,But not the light with which it shone:Your brave and haughty scorn of allWas stately and monarchical.All gentleness, with that esteem'd,A dull and slavish virtue seem'd;Shouldst thou have yielded then to me,Thou 'dst lost what I most lov'd in thee;For who would serve one, whom he seesThat he could conquer if he please?It far'd with me, as if a slaveIn triumph led, that does perceiveWith what a gay majestick prideHis conqueror through the streets does ride, Should be contented with his woe,Which makes up such a comely show.I sought not from thee a return,But without hopes or fears did burn;My covetous passion did approveThe hoarding-up, not use, of love.My love a kind of dream was grown,A foolish, but a pleasant one:From which I'm waken'd now; but, oh!Prisoners to die are waken'd so;For now th' effects of loving areNothing but longings, with despair:Despair, whose torments no men, sure,But lovers and the damn'd, endure.Her scorn I doted once upon,Ill object for affection; But since, alas! too much ’tis prov'd,That yet 't was something that I lov'd;Now my desires are worse, and fly,At an impossibility:Desires which, whilst so high they soar,Are proud as that I lov'd before.What lover can like me complain,Who first lov'd vainly, next in vain!