Come, my Celia, let us prove
While we may, the sports of love;
Time will not be ours forever;
He at length our good will sever.
Spend not then his gifts in vain.
Suns that set may rise again;
But if once we lose this light,
'Tis with us perpetual night.
Why should we defer our joys?
Fame and rumor are but toys.
Cannot we delude the eyes
Of a few poor household spies,
Or his easier ears beguile,
So removed by our wile?
'Tis no sin love's fruit to steal;
But the sweet theft to reveal.
To be taken, to be seen,
These have crimes accounted been.
Nicely portrayed.. good words..10 Before time goes We shall sing songs When remain among People and neighbors With nothing to harbor So my love Come near and believe We are one and shall remain so Before time goes on wane
Men haven't changed through the centuries. I can clearly see cavemen trying this on- -come on babe, you never know when T Rex might eat us up so let's party now while we can. I have to admit, that poets are smoother than most men. Even so, if I were Celia, I would club the smarmy guy. Cling to your hubby, girl.
The poem is about seduction. the theme of time as a pressing factor is used by Andrew Marvel in his poem (To His Coy Mistress) . The shadows of Marvel's poem can be felt as Ben Jonson has definitely been affected by Marvel's poem.
I wonder if this poem did the job of seduction for which it was obviously intended.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Ben Johnson in this short and succinct poem - 'Come, My Celia' points to the value of time. Before time goes we shall sing songs - wonderful!