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Quotes from Poems on Several Occasions — John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

1647–1680 England

← All quotes by John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

14 quotes

There's not a thing on Earth, that I can name,
So foolish, and so false, as common fame.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Love a woman? You're an ass!
'Tis a most insipid passion
To choose out for your happiness
The silliest part of God's creation.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Dead, we become the lumber of the world.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Much wine had past, with grave discourse,
Of who fucks who, and who does worse.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

But mark what creatures women are:
How infinitely vile, when fair!

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

The world appears like a great family,
Whose lord, oppressed with pride and poverty,
(That to the few great bounty he may show)
Is fain to starve the numerous train below.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

So a proud bitch does lead about
Of humble curs the amorous rout,
Who most obsequiously do hunt
The sav’ry scent of salt-swol'n cunt.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Thou treacherous, base deserter of my flame,
False to my passion, fatal to my fame,
Through what mistaken magic dost thou prove
So true to lewdness, so untrue to love?

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Farewell, woman! I intend
Henceforth every night to sit
With my lewd, well-natured friend,
Drinking to engender wit.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Thus, Statesman-like, I'll saucily impose,
And, safe from Danger, valiantly advise;
Sheltered in Impotence, urge you to Blows,
And, being good for nothing else, be Wise.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Then talk not of Inconstancy,
False Hearts, and broken Vows;
If I, by Miracle, can be
This live-long Minute true to thee,
'Tis all that Heav'n allows.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Such nat’ral freedoms are but just:
There’s something gen’rous in mere lust.
But to turn a damn’d abandon’d jade
When neither head nor tail persuade;
To be a whore in understanding,
A passive pot for fools to spend in!

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

See the kind seed-receiving earth
To every grain affords a birth:
On her no showers unwelcome fall,
Her willing womb retains 'em all,
And shall my Caelia be confined?
No, live up to thy mighty mind,
And be the mistress of Mankind!

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Naked she lay, clasped in my longing arms,
I filled with love, and she all over charms;
Both equally inspired with eager fire,
Melting through kindness, flaming in desire.
With arms, legs, lips close clinging to embrace.

Poems on Several Occasions (1680)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.