| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | Celamina of My Heart | | By John Dryden (1631–1700) |
| | (From An Evening’s Love)
DAMON. Celamina, of my heart, | |
| None shall e’re bereave you: | |
| If by your good leave I may | |
| Quarrel with you once a day | |
| I will never leave you. | 5 |
| |
| CELAMINA. Passion’s but an empty name, | |
| Where respect is wanting; | |
| Damon, you mistake your aim, | |
| Hang your heart, and burn your flame, | |
| If you must be ranting. | 10 |
| |
| DAMON. Love as dull and muddy is, | |
| As decaying Liquor: | |
| Anger sets it on the Lees, | |
| And refines it by degrees, | |
| Till it works it quicker. | 15 |
| |
| CELAMINA. Love by Quarrels to beget, | |
| Wisely you endeavour, | |
| With a grave Physician’s wit, | |
| Who to cure an ague fit, | |
| Puts me in a Fevor. | 20 |
| |
| DAMON. Anger rouseth Love to fight, | |
| And his only bait is, | |
| ’Tis the spur to dull delight, | |
| And is but an eager bite | |
| When desire at height is. | 25 |
| |
| CELAMINA. If such drops of heat can fall | |
| In our wooing weather, | |
| If such drops of heat can fall, | |
| We shall have the Devil and all | |
| When we come together. | 30 | | | |
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