Classic Poem

——Prithee, say aye or no;
If thou 'lt not have me, tell me so;
———I cannot stay,
——Nor will I wait upon
———A smile or frown.
——If thou wilt have me, say;
Then I am thine, or else I am mine own.

——Be white or black; I hate
Dependence on a checkered fate;
———Let go, or hold;
——Come, either kiss or not:
———Now to be hot,
——And then again as cold,
Is a fantastic fever you have got.

——A tedious woo is base,
And worse by far than a long grace:
———For whilst we stay,
——Our lingering spoils the roast,
———Or stomach 's lost;
——Nor can, nor will I stay;
For if I sup not quickly, I will fast.

——Whilst we are fresh and stout
And vigorous, let us to 't:
———Alas, what good
——From wrinkled man appears,
———Gelded with years,
——When his thin wheyish blood
Is far less comfortable than his tears?

——Prithee, say aye or no;
If thou 'lt not have me, tell me so;
———I cannot stay,
——Nor will I wait upon
———A smile or frown.
——If thou wilt have me, say;
Then I am thine, or else I am mine own.

——Be white or black; I hate
Dependence on a checkered fate;
———Let go, or hold;
——Come, either kiss or not:
———Now to be hot,
——And then again as cold,
Is a fantastic fever you have got.

——A tedious woo is base,
And worse by far than a long grace:
———For whilst we stay,
——Our lingering spoils the roast,
———Or stomach 's lost;
——Nor can, nor will I stay;
For if I sup not quickly, I will fast.

——Whilst we are fresh and stout
And vigorous, let us to 't:
———Alas, what good
——From wrinkled man appears,
———Gelded with years,
——When his thin wheyish blood
Is far less comfortable than his tears?