T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Epigram: Whats 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. | |