by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
To an Inconstant Lover
Language: English
Wilt thou be gone, thou heartless man? Here's none seeks to do thee wrong. Here's food would warm the coldest blood, Joys would make an old man young. Here are eyes that would move Stones to pity, rocks to Iove, Cheeks of a vermillion hue Sweet as roses in a dew. Who but a silly swain or foolish guest For homely cates would leave so dainty a feast? Wilt thou be gone, thou frosty man? Is not beauty a fair prize? Dost rate thy pelf with true love's wealth? Foolish man, where are thine eyes? Here are lips both fresh and fair, Red as cherries in their prime, Globe-like breasts, both smooth and white, Full of pleasure and delight. Who but an ass woulid leave such dainty a store, To feed on thistles when better meat's before? Go get thee gone, thou senseless man, And make marts with such as she Who both in kind and currish mind Ev'ry way's as base as thee; That hath eyelids like some witch, Wrinkled cheeks as black as pitch, Lips as pale, and for her breasts, Lank and loathsome as the rest. May she disgrace her sex and thee so far That thou may'st languish to death with loathing her.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( 17th century )  [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Charles Coleman (c1605 - 1664), "To an Inconstant Lover", 1641-57. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: John Versmoren
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 207