Incensed Fair One! if Forgiveness be
Not in thy Power to extend to Me;
Which to believe, were such an impious Thought,
Heav'n scarce would pardon, tho with Tears 'twere sought.
Destroy at once the Creature that you hate,
And wrack me not with a sad ling'ring Fate:
Yet ere I Die, permit some small Defense,
Not that I will pretend to Innocence;
That were to think that You have been Unjust,
Which let me Perish when I once Mistrust.
With all that Rev'rence that a Pious Jew
Would name
Jehovah
, I should Speak of You:
But I, profanely named you in the Ear
Of Crowds unfit such Sacred Sounds to hear:
Yet what I said, if traced, you will find,
Tho short of you, outdid all Woman-kind.
My Fault was too much Zeal; this forced my Tongue
To tell the Worth it had Adorèd long.
My Life will witness this; for, Madam, know,
I love too well to Live and Injure You.