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First Line: To this moment a rebel, I throw down my arms
Last Line: At the thought of those joys I should meet in her arms.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of
Subject(s): Love


To this moment a rebel, I throw down my arms,
Great Love! at first sight of Olinda's bright charms.
Made proud and secure by such forces as these,
You may now be a tyrant as soon as you please.

When innocence, beauty, and wit do conspire
To betray, and engage, and inflame my desire,
Why should I decline what I cannot avoid,
And let pleasing hope by base fear be destroyed?

Her innocence cannot contrive to undo me;
Her beauty's inclined, or why should it pursue me?
And wit has to pleasure been ever a friend;
Then what room for despair, since delight is love's end?

There can be no danger in sweetness and youth
Where love is secured by good nature and truth.
On her beauty I'll gaze, and of pleasure complain,
While every kind look adds a link to my chain.

'Tis more to maintain than it was to surprise,
But her wit leads in triumph the slave of her eyes.
I beheld with the loss of my freedom before,
But, hearing, forever must serve and adore.

Too bright is my goddess, her temple too weak.
Retire, divine image! I feel my heart break.
Help, Love! I dissolve in a rapture of charms
At the thought of those joys I should meet in her arms.





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