My Dear Mistress Has a Heart

Portrait of John Wilmot
John Wilmot 1647–1680

My dear mistress has a heart Soft as those kind looks she gave me, When with love's resistless art, And her eyes, she did enslave me; But her constancy's so weak, She's so wild and apt to wander, That my jealous heart would break Should we live one day asunder.

Melting joys about her move, Killing pleasures, wounding blisses; She can dress her eyes in love, And her lips can arm with kisses; Angels listen when she speaks, She's my delight, all mankind's wonder; But my jealous heart would break Should we live one day asunder.

Keep reading

Discover more of John Wilmot’s poetry.

Explore all poems

Readers

Reader discussion

Your turn

Shown with your comment.

Never published. Only so we can reach you.

Comments are read before they appear. See our terms.