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Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

V. Cautions and Complaints

“Give me more love or more disdain”

Thomas Carew (1595?–1639?)

GIVE me more love or more disdain;

The torrid or the frozen zone

Brings equal ease unto my pain;

The temperate affords me none;

Either extreme, of love or hate,

Is sweeter than a calm estate.

Give me a storm; If it be love,

Like Danaë in a golden shower,

I swim in pleasure; if it prove

Disdain, that torrent will devour

My vulture hopes; and he ’s possessed

Of heaven that ’s but from hell released;

Then crown my joys, or cure my pain;

Give me more love or more disdain.