poetry texts, poem archive at plagiarist.com

Read more poems by John Dryden: John Dryden Poems at Poetry X.

Why should a foolish marriage vow, 
Which long ago was made,
Oblige us to each other now
When passion is decay'd?
We lov'd, and we lov'd, as long as we could,
Till our love was lov'd out in us both:
But our marriage is dead, when the pleasure is fled:
'Twas pleasure first made it an oath.

If I have pleasures for a friend,
And farther love in store,
What wrong has he whose joys did end,
And who could give no more?
'Tis a madness that he should be jealous of me,
Or that I should bar him of another:
For all we can gain is to give our selves pain,
When neither can hinder the other. 

Added: 6 Oct 2002 | Last Read: 7 Jun 2025 4:46 PM | Viewed: 9767 times

A PoetryNotes™ Analysis of Why Should A Foolish Marriage Vow by John Dryden, is Available!

A PoetryNotes™ eBook is available for this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and usually available within minutes during normal business hours.

ON SALE - only $29.95 19.95!

For more information...