Love

Against Jealousy

by Ben Jonson 1572-1637

From Underwoods (1640)

Love

Wretched and foolish jealousy,
How cam'st thou thus to enter me?
I ne'er was of thy kind;
Nor have I yet the narrow mind
To vent that poor desire,
That others should not warm them at my fire:
I wish the sun should shine
On all men's fruits and flowers, as well as mine.

But under the disguise of love,
Thou say'st, thou only cam'st to prove
What my affections were.
Think'st thou that love is help'd by fear?
Go, get thee quickly forth,
Love's sickness, and his noted want of worth,
Seek doubting men to please,
I ne'er will owe my health to a disease.

✦ ✦ ✦

Underwoods, Miscellaneous Poems, no. 8.

MLA

Jonson, Ben. “Against Jealousy.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/205/.

Chicago

Jonson, Ben. “Against Jealousy.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/jonson/205/.

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