Ben Jonson(1572–1637)

Though I Am Young and Cannot Tell

Though I am young, and cannot tell

Either what Death or Love is well,

Yet I have heard they both bear darts,

And both do aim at human hearts.

And then again, I have been told

Love wounds with heat, as Death with cold;

So that I fear they do but bring

Extremes to touch, and mean one thing.

As in a ruin we it call

One thing to be blown up, or fall;

Or to our end like way may have

By a flash of lightning, or a wave;

S o L o v e ' s i n f l a m e d s h a f t o r b r a n d

M a y kill a s s o o n a s D e a t h ' s c o l d h a n d ;

E x c e p t L o v e ' s fires t h e v i r t u e h a v e

T o f r i g h t t h e f r o s t o u t o f t h e g r a v e .