Cowley, Abraham . The Third Part of the Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley
Being his Six Books of Plants
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
|
Table of Contents for this work | | All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |
LETTUCE.
SOme think your commendation you deserve, 48
'Cause you of old Augustus did preserve. [Latin: 660]
Why did you still prolong that fatal breath,
That banish'd Ovid, and was Tully's death?
But I suppose that neither of 'em you,
Nor Orator nor Poet ever knew;
Wherefore I wonder not, you shou'd comply,
And the Worlds Tyrant so far gratify.
Thou truly to all Tyrants art of use,
Their madness flies before thy pow'rful juice.
Their heads with better wreaths, I pri'thee, crown,
And let the World in them thy kindness own.
At thy command forth from its scorched Heart, 720
Of Tyrants Love the greatest does depart.
False Love, I mean; for thou ne'r try'st t'expel
True Love, who, like a good King, governs well.
Justly that Dog star, Cupid, thou do'st hate,
Whose fire kills Herbs, and Monsters does create.
[48] Augustus is said to have been preserved in his Sickness by Lettuce. Plin.