Demades

Give period to the process of thy plaint, Unhappy Damon, witty in self-grieving; Tend thou thy flocks; let tyrant love attaint Those tender hearts that made their love their living. And as kind time keeps Phillis from thy sight, So let prevention banish fancy quite.

Cast hence this idle fuel of desire, That feeds that flame wherein thy heart consumeth; Let reason school thy will which doth aspire, And counsel cool impatience that presumeth; Drive hence vain thoughts which are fond love's abettors, For he that seeks his thraldom merits fetters.

The vain idea of this deity Nursed at the teat of thine imagination, Was bred, brought up by thine own vanity, Whose being thou mayst curse from the creation; And so thou list, thou may as soon forget love, As thou at first didst fashion and beget love.