Love

On Her Loving Two Equally

by Aphra Behn 1640–1689

From Poems upon Several Occasions (1684)

Love

How strongly does my Passion flow,
Divided equally ‘twixt two?
Damon had ne’er subdu’d my Heart,
Had not Alexis took his part;
Nor cou’d Alexis pow’rful prove.
Without my Damons Aid, to gain my Love.

When my Alexis present is,
Then I for Damon sigh and mourn;
But when Alexis I do miss,
Damon gains nothing but my Scorn.
But if it chance they both are by,
For both alike I languish, sigh, and die.

Cure then, thou mighty winged God,
This restless Feaver in my Blood;
One Golden-Pointed Dart take back:
But which, O Cupid, wilt thou take?
If Damons, all my Hopes are crost;
Or that of my Alexis, I am lost.

MLA

Behn, Aphra. “On Her Loving Two Equally.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/behn/25/.

Chicago

Behn, Aphra. “On Her Loving Two Equally.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/behn/25/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Aphra Behn