Love

A Dialogue between a Lover's Flaming Heart and His Lady's Frozen Breast

by Francis Davison c. 1575–c. 1619

From A Poetical Rhapsody (1602), ed. A. H. Bullen (1890–91)

Love

Heart. Shun not, sweet breast, to see me all of fire.
Breast. Fly not, dear heart, to find me all of snow.
Heart. Thy snow inflames these flames of my desire.
Breast. And I desire Desire's sweet flames to know.
Heart. Thy snow ne'er will hurt me.
Breast. Nor thy fire will harm me.
Heart. This cold will cool me.
Breast. And this heat will warm me.
Heart. Take this chaste fire to that pure virgin snow.
Breast. Being now thus warmed, I'll ne'er seek other fire.
Heart. Thou giv'st more bliss than mortal hearts may know.
Breast. More bliss I take than angels can desire.

Both together.
Let one joy fill us, as one grief did harm us;
Let one death kill us, as one love doth warm us.

MLA

Davison, Francis. “A Dialogue between a Lover's Flaming Heart and His Lady's Frozen Breast.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davison/76/.

Chicago

Davison, Francis. “A Dialogue between a Lover's Flaming Heart and His Lady's Frozen Breast.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davison/76/.

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