Metin
No sail appears, and she'll expect no more:
655
Her nuptial girdle round her waist was tied,
Just o'er herhead a stretching bough she spied;
She offers, and flies back, dreads what she dares;
And, thus confus'd, the fatal knot prepares.
Now, wretched Phillis, while this deed was done,
660
I could have wish'd thou hadst not been alone.
Let disappointed lovers warning take
By thee, and never company forsake.
But while society I do prescribe,
I mean not those of your own sighing tribe:
665
For nothing sure can so injurious be
To one in love, as lovers company.There is a sort of dangerous infection in it; and, indeed, nothing is more certain, than that which is bad is more communicated to another than that which is good; which the poet justifies by similes, as he is wont to do. Juvenal speakes of this infection in the same sense that Ovid does.
A patient, who my orders did obey,
And to his cure was in a hopeful way,
By keeping lovers' company one night,
670
Relaps'd beyond my skill to set him right.
Such dang'rous neighbourhood you must avoid:
A flock's by one contagious sheep destroy'd.
If health you'd keep shun those who are unsound;
