Living

Discretion.

by Abraham Cowley 1618–1667

Living

DIscreet? what means this word Discreet?
A Curse on all Discretion!
This barbarous term you will not meet
In all Loves-Lexicon.

Ioynture▪ Portion, Gold, Estate,
Houses, Houshold-stuff, or Land,
(The Low Conveniences of Fate)
Are Greek no Lovers understand.

Believe me, beauteous one, when Love
Enters into a brest,
The two first things it doth remove,
Are Friends and Interest.

Passion's half blind, nor can endure
The careful, scrup'lous Eyes,
Or else I could not love, I'm sure,
One who in Love were wise.

Men, in such tempests tost about,
Will without grief or pain,
Cast all their goods and riches out,
Themselves their Port to gain.

As well might Martyrs, who do choose,
That sacred Death to take,
Mourn for the Clothes which they must lose,
When they're bound naked to the Stake.

MLA

Cowley, Abraham. “Discretion.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cowley/101/.

Chicago

Cowley, Abraham. “Discretion.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cowley/101/.

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