Alexander Brome (Александр Бром)
Advice to Caelia
1. MY lovely Caelia, while thou dost enjoy Beauty and youth, be sure to use 'um, And be not fickle, be not coy, Thy self or Lovers to destroy. Since all those Lillies and those Roses, Which Lovers find, or love supposes, To flourish in thy face, Will tarry but a little space; And youth and beauty are but only lent To you by nature, with this good intent, You should enjoy, but not abuse 'um, And when enjoyments may be had, not fondly to re∣fuse 'um. 2. Let lovers flatt'ry ne'r prevail with thee; Nor their oyl'd complements deceive thee, Their vows and protestations be Too often meer Hypocrisie: And those high praises of the witty May all be costly, but not fit ye, Or if it true should be Now what thy lovers say of thee, Sickness or age will quickly strip away Those fading glories of thy youthful May; And of thy graces all bereave thee; Then those that thee ador'd before will slight thee, and so leave thee. 3. Then while thou'rt fair and yonng, be kind, but wise, Doat not, nor proudly use denying; That tempting toy thy beauty lies Not in thy face, but lovers eyes. And he that doats on thee may smother His love, 'ith beauty of another, Or flying at all game May quench, or else divert his flame. His reason too may chance to interpose, And love declines as fast as reason grows. There is a knack to find loves treasures Too young, too old, too nice, too free, too slow, destroys your pleasures.
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