Richard Lovelace.


 
Being treated

T O  E L L I N D A.

FOR Cherries plenty, and for Coran's
Enough for fifty, were there more on's ;
For Elles of Beere Flutes of Canary
That well did wash downe pasties-mary ;
For Peason, Chickens, sawces high,
Pig, and the Widdow-Venson pye ;
With certaine promise (to your Brother)
Of the Virginity of another,
Where it is thought I too may peepe in
With Knuckles far as any deepe in ;
For glasses, heads, hands, bellies full
Of Wine, and Loyne right-worshipfull ;
Whether all of, or more behind—a
Thankes freest, freshest, Faire Ellinda :
Thankes for my Visit not disdaining,
Or at the least thankes for your feigning ;
For if your mercy doore were lockt-well,
I should be justly soundly knockt-well ;
Cause that in dogrell I did mutter
Not one Rhime to you from dam-Rotter.

    Next beg I to present my duty
To pregnant Sister in prime Beauty,
Whom well I deeme (e're few months elder)
Will take out Hans from pretty Kelder,
And to the sweetly fayre Mabella,
A match that vies with Arabella ;
In each respect but the misfortune,
Fortune, Fate, I thee importune.

    Nor must I passe the lovely Alice,
Whose health i'd quaffe in golden Chalice ;
But since that Fate hath made me neuter,
I only can in Beaker Pewter :
But who'd forget, or yet left un-sung
The doughty Acts of George the yong-Son ?
Who yesterday to save his Sister
Had slaine the Snake, had he not mist her :
But I shall leave him 'till a Nag on
He gets to prosecute the Dragon ;
And then with helpe of Sun and Taper,
Fill with his deeds twelve Reames of paper,
That Amadis, Sir Guy, and Topaz
With his fleet Neigher shall keep no-pace.
    But now to close all I must switch-hard.
    Servant ever ;
                                      Lovelace Richard.



Coran's—Currants.


Source:
Lovelace, Richard.   The Poems of Richard Lovelace.
London: Unit Library, Ltd., 1904.   71-72.


to Works of Richard Lovelace


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