Quotes from Eloisa to Abelard — Alexander Pope
1688–1744 England
← All quotes by Alexander Pope
15 quotes
Fame, wealth, and honour! what are you to Love?
Of all affliction taught a lover yet,
'Tis true the hardest science to forget.
And more than echoes talk along the walls.
How glowing guilt exalts the keen delight!
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;
Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
Heav'n first taught letters for some wretch's aid,
Some banish'd lover, or some captive maid.
See my lips tremble and my eyeballs roll,
Suck my last breath, and catch my flying soul!
Not grace, or zeal, love only was my call,
And if I lose thy love, I lose my all.
And truths divine came mended from that tongue.
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!
The world forgetting, by the world forgot.
O Death, all eloquent! you only prove
What dust we dote on, when 'tis man we love.
Soon as thy letters trembling I unclose,
That well-known name awakens all my woes.
Where round some mould'ring tow'r pale ivy creeps,
And low-brow'd rocks hang nodding o'er the deeps
Attribution
Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Alexander Pope (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.