Volume 5 — A SONG.
Reading edition
Set by Mr. Fishburn.
[Listen]
TELL me no more of Flames in Love, That common dull pretence, Fools in Romances use to move Soft Hearts of little Sense: No, Strephon, I’m not such a Slave, Love’s banish’d Power to own; Since Interest and Convenience have So long usurp’d his Throne. No burning Hope or cold Despair, Dull Groves or purling Streams, Sighing and talking to the Air In Love’s fantastick Dreams, Can move my Pity or my Hate, But Satyrist I’ll prove, And all ridiculous create That shall pretend to Love. Love was a Monarch once, ’tis true, And God-like rul’d alone, And tho’ his Subjects were but few, Their Hearts were all his own; But since the Slaves revolted are, And turn’d into a State, Their Int’rest is their only Care, And Love grows out of Date.
