Love

A cruell Mistris.

by Thomas Carew 1595–1640

Love

WEE read of Kings and Gods that kindly tooke,
A pitcher fil'd with water from the brooke;
But I have dayly tendred without thankes
Rivers of teares that overflow their bankes.
A slaughter'd bull will appease angry love
A horse the Sun, a Lambe the God of love,
But shee disdaines the spotlesse sacrifice
Of a pure heart that at her altar lyes.
Vesta is not displeas'd if her chast vrne
Doe with repayred fuell ever burne;
But my Saint frownes though to her honour'd name.
I consecrate a never dying flame.
Th' Assyrian King did none i'th' furnace throw,
But those that to his Image did not bow;
With bended knees J daily worship her,
Yet she consumes her owne Idolater.
Of such a Goddesse no times leave record,
That burnt the temple where she was ador'd.

MLA

Carew, Thomas. “A cruell Mistris.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/carew/5/.

Chicago

Carew, Thomas. “A cruell Mistris.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/carew/5/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Thomas Carew