Love

So quick, so hot, so mad is thy fond suit

by Thomas Campion 1567–1620

From The Third Book of Airs (c. 1617)

Love

So quick, so hot, so mad is thy fond suit,
So rude, so tedious grown, in urging me,
That fain I would, with loss, make thy tongue mute,
And yield some little grace to quiet thee:
An hour with thee I care not to converse,
For I would not be counted too perverse.

But roofs too hot would prove for me all fire;
And hills too high for my unused pace;
The grove is charged with thorns and the bold briar;
Grey snakes the meadows shroud in every place:
A yellow frog, alas, will fright me so,
As I should start and tremble as I go.

Since then I can on earth no fit room find,
In heaven I am resolved with you to meet:
Till then, for hope's sweet sake, rest your tired mind
And not so much as see me in the street:
A heavenly meeting one day we shall have,
But never, as you dream, in bed, or grave.

✦ ✦ ✦

The Third Book of Airs (c. 1617)

MLA

Campion, Thomas. “So quick, so hot, so mad is thy fond suit.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/campion/95/.

Chicago

Campion, Thomas. “So quick, so hot, so mad is thy fond suit.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/campion/95/.

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