T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Epigram: “What’s the worth of Health or Living”
Anonymous(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719) |
WHAT’S the worth of Health or Living, | |
| If we stint our selves of Bliss; | |
| Grief is but a self-deceiving, | |
| Choosing may be for what is: | |
| Dozed all Night, and daily weeping, | 5 |
| Zealots think to Heaven to climb; | |
| Thus with Canting and with Sleeping, | |
| The poor Scots lose all their Time. | |
| Give me Love, and give me Wine too, | |
| For Life’s Cares to make amends; | 10 |
| Wit and Poetry Divine too, | |
| And a charming Female Friend: | |
| In a Moral honest Station, | |
| To my Grave in Peace I’ll go; | |
| Let the bug Predestination, | 15 |
| Fright the Fool’s no better know. | |