Social Commentaries
The effects of Brainsick's letters
From Clarastella (1650), Epigrams, Lib. 2
Your lines were all so sweet, and work't so wel,
So purg'd me too, that I can hardly tel
Whether they wrought on my affections more
Or on my body, I drew thence such store
Of precious Elixer, and so much
Compounded Cates, whose qualitie was such,
That where my Physick promis'd me but seven,
By virtue of your lines I had eleven.
But yet I'l tel you; troth 'twas een forgot
It purg'd and scar'd and wipt off you know what;
It griev'd mee your fair hand should undergo
So foul an office as to wipe it too;
But rather then your hand or paper bee
Stain'd with this act, let the guilt lie on mee.
I did it 'cause I know that you could write
Such lines again as fast as I could—
Write to me oftner pray! so I may save
Physicians fees, and may bum-fodder have.
Cite this poem
MLA
Heath, Robert. “The effects of Brainsick's letters.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heath_r/224/.
Chicago
Heath, Robert. “The effects of Brainsick's letters.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heath_r/224/.
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