William Congreve (1670-1729). Song: 'Pious Selinda goes to prayers'. William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. 1910. The Book of Restoration Verse

William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910.

Song: ‘Pious Selinda goes to prayers’

By William Congreve (1670–1729)


PIOUS Selinda goes to prayers
If I but ask the favour;
And yet the tender fool’s in tears
When she believes I’ll leave her.

Would I were free from this restraint,	5
Or else had hopes to win her;
Would she could make of me a saint,
Or I of her a sinner!