JOY CALLS FOR TWO

From "Night Thoughts," Night II

Nature, in zeal for human amity,

Denies, or damps, an undivided joy.

Joy is an import; joy is an exchange;


Joy flies monopolists: it calls for two;

Rich fruit! Heaven planted! never plucked by one.

Needful auxiliars are our friends, to give

To social man true relish of himself.


Full on ourselves, descending in a line,

Pleasure's bright beam is feeble in delight:

Delight intense is taken by rebound;

Reverberated pleasures fire the breast.

Edward Young