To this moment a rebel I throw down my arms, <br />Great Love, at first sight of Olinda's bright charms. <br />Make proud and secure by such forces as these, <br />You may now play the tyrant as soon as you please. <br /> <br />When Innocence, Beauty, and Wit do conspire <br />To betray, and engage, and inflame my Desire, <br />Why should I decline what I cannot avoid? <br />And let pleasing Hope by base Fear be destroyed? <br /> <br />Her innocence cannot contrive to undo me, <br />Her beauty's inclined, or why should it pursue me? <br />And Wit has to Pleasure been ever a friend, <br />Then what room for Despair, since Delight is Love's end? <br /> <br />There can be no danger in sweetness and youth, <br />Where Love is secured by good nature and truth; <br />On her beauty I'll gaze and of pleasure complain <br />While every kind look adds a link to my chain. <br /> <br />'Tis more to maintain than it was to surprise, <br />But her Wit leads in triumpth the slave of her eyes; <br />I beheld, with the loss of my freedom before, <br />But hearing, forever must serve and adore. <br /> <br />Too bright is my Goddess, her temple too weak: <br />Retire, divine image! I feel my heart break. <br />Help, Love! I dissolve in a rapture of charms <br />At the thought of those joys I should meet in her arms.<br /><br />Lord John Wilmot<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-this-moment-a-rebel-2/
