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Home  »  The World’s Best Poetry  »  To Lucasta, on Going to the Wars

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

II. Parting and Absence

To Lucasta, on Going to the Wars

Richard Lovelace (1618–1658)

TELL me not, sweet, I am unkinde,

That from the nunnerie

Of thy chaste breast and quiet minde,

To warre and armes I flee.

True, a new mistresse now I chase.—

The first foe in the field;

And with a stronger faith imbrace

A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As you, too, shall adore;

I could not love thee, deare, so much,

Loved I not honour more.