Classic Poem

NO man love's fiery passion can approve
As either yielding profit or promotion,
I like, a calm and lukewarm zeal in love,
Although I do not like it in devotion.
Besides, man needs not love unless he please;
No destiny can force his disposition.
How then can any die of that disease
Whereof himself may turn his own physician?
Some one, perhaps, in long consumption dried,
And after falling into love, may die;
But I dare pawn my life he ne'er had died
Had been healthy at the heart as I.
Some others, rather than incur the slander
Of false apostates, will true martyrs prove;
But I am neither Iphis nor Leander,
I'll neither hang nor drown myself for love.
Yet I have been a lover by report,
And I have died for love as others do,
But, praised be Jove, it was in such a sort
That I revived within an hour or two.
Thus have I loved, thus have I lived till now,
And know no reason to repent me yet;
And he that any otherwise would do
His courage is no better than his wit.