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First Line: What cruel pains corinna takes
Last Line: Her vassal should undo her.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of


What cruel pains Corinna takes
To force that harmless frown;
When not one charm her face forsakes,
Love cannot lose his own.

So sweet a face, so soft a heart,
Such eyes, so very kind,
Betray, alas! the silly art
Virtue had ill designed.

Poor feeble tyrant, who in vain
Would proudly take upon her,
Against kind nature, to maintain
Affected rules of honor.

The scorn she bears so helpless proves,
When I plead passion to her,
That much she fears, but more she loves,
Her vassal should undo her.





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