The DECISION. BALLAD III. Christopher Smart Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T42626 K041581.000 Smart, Christopher, 1722-1771. Poems on several occasions: By Christopher Smart, A. M. Fellow of Pembroke-Hall, Cambridge. London printed for the author, by W. Strahan; and sold by J. Newbery, at the Bible and Sun, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, MDCCLII. 1752 pp. 200-201. [16],230p.,plates; 4⁰.

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The DECISION . BALLAD III . I. MY Florio , wildest of his sex , ( Who sure the veriest saint wou'd vex ) From beauty roves to beauty ; Yet , tho' abroad the wanton roam , Whene'er he deigns to stay at home , He always minds his duty . II . Something to every charming she , In thoughtless prodigality , He's granting still and granting , To Phyllis that , to Cloe this , And every madam , every miss ; Yet I find nothing wanting . III . If haply I his will displease , Tempestuous as th' autumnal seas He foams and rages ever ; But when he ceases from his ire , I cry , such spirit , and such fire , Is surely wond'rous clever . IV . I ne'er want reason to complain ; But sweet is pleasure after pain , And every joy grows greater . Then trust me , damsels , whilst I tell , I should not like him half so well , If I cou'd make him better .