John Addington Symonds, There’s No Lust Like to Poetry, from Mediæval Latin Students’ Songs, from The Bibelot, Volume I, Number III, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Edited by Thomas B. Mosher, rare poetry, rare prose, free online text, e-book, 12th, 13th century English poetry and music, troubadours, Goliardic songs and poems, online text, free e-book, on www.elfinspell.com (Bibelot1SymondsPoetry)

From The Bibelot, A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, chosen in part from scarce editions and sources not generally known, Volume I, Number III, Testimonial Edition, Edited and Originally Published by Thomas B. Mosher, Portland, Maine; Wm. Wise & Co.; New York; 1895; pp. 81-2.

“The second consists of a truly brilliant development of the theme whch our Herrick condensed into one splendid phrase — ‘There’s no lust like to poetry!’ ”

THERE’S NO
LUST LIKE TO
POETRY.

SWEET in goodly fellowship
Tastes red wine and rare O!
But to kiss a girl’s ripe lip
    Is a gift more fair O!
Yet a gift more sweet, more fine,
    Is the lyre of Maro!
While these three good gifts were mine
    I’d not change with Pharaoh.

Bacchus wakes within my breast
    Love and love’s desire,
Venus comes and stirs the blessed
    Rage of Phœbus’ fire;
Deathless honour is our due
    From the laurelled sire:
Woe should I turn traitor to
    Wine and love and lyre!

83
Should a tyrant rise and say,
     “Give up wine!” I’d do it;
“Love no girls!” I would obey,
    Though my heart should rue it.
“Dash thy lyre!” suppose he saith,
    Naught should bring me to it;
“Yield thy lyre or die!” my breath,
    Dying, should thrill through it!

III. MEDIÆVAL LATIN STUDENTS’ SONGS

THERE’S NO
LUST LIKE TO
POETRY.

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III. MEDIÆVAL LATIN STUDENTS’ SONGS

THERE’S NO LUST LIKE TO POETRY.

[Back] [Blueprint] [Next]

THERE’S NO
LUST LIKE TO
POETRY.