Love

On a Lady Throwing Snow-Balls at Her Lover

by Christopher Smart 1722–1771

Love

When, wanton fair, the snowy orb you throw,
I feel a fire before unknown in snow.
E'en coldest snow I find has pow'r to warm
My breast, when flung by Julia 's lovely arm.
T'elude love's pow'rful arts I strive in vain,
If ice and snow can latent fires contain.
These frolics leave: the force of beauty prove,
With equal passion cool my ardent love.

✦ ✦ ✦

An eight-line epigram, given as a version of a Latin epigram attributed to Petronius Afranius, in which a lover feels fire from the lady's snowballs.

MLA

Smart, Christopher. “On a Lady Throwing Snow-Balls at Her Lover.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/smart/28/.

Chicago

Smart, Christopher. “On a Lady Throwing Snow-Balls at Her Lover.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/smart/28/.

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