Classic Poem

PALURUS .

My Antinetta, though thou be
More white than foam wherewith a wave,
Broke in his wrath, besmears the sea,
Yet art thou harder than this cave.

ANTINETTA .

Though thou be fairer than the light,
Which doubting pilots only mind,
That they may steer their course aright,
Yet art thou lighter than the wind.

PALURUS .

And shall I not be chang'd? when thou
Hast fraught Medorus with thy heart;
And as along the sands we go
To gather shells, dost take his part?

ANTINETTA .

What! shall not I congeal to see
Doris, the ballast of thine arms,
(Which have so oft encompassed me)
Now pinion'd by her faithless charms?

PALURUS .

What if I henceforth shall disdain
The golden tressed Doris love,
And Antinetta serve again,
And in that service constant prove?

ANTINETTA .

Though mighty Neptune cannot stand
Before Medorus, and thou be
Restless as whirlpools, false as sand,
Yet will I live and die with thee.

PALURUS .

Nay, live, and lest one single death
Should rack thee, take this life of mine.

ANTINETTA .

Thou but exchanged with that breath
Thy Antinetta's soul for thine.

CHORUS .

How powerful's love! which, like a flame
That sever'd, reunites more close;
Or like a broken limb in frame,
That ever after firmer grows.