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PYGMALION TO GALATEA, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Pygmalion spoke and sang to galatea
Last Line: "give me an equal kiss, as I kiss you."
Subject(s): Courtship; Galatea; Love; Pygmalion; Women


Pygmalion spoke and sang to Galatea
Who keeping to her pedestal in doubt
Of these new qualities, blood, bones and breath,
Nor yet relaxing her accustomed poise,
Her Parian rigour, though alive and burning,
Heard out his melody:

"As you are woman, so be lovely:
Fine hair afloat and eyes irradiate,
Long crafty fingers, fearless carriage,
And body lissom, neither small nor tall;

"As you are lovely, so be merciful:
Yet must your mercy abstain from pity:
Prize your self-honour, leaving me with mine:
Love if you will: or stay stone-frozen.
So be merciful!

"As you are merciful, so be constant:
I ask not you should mask your comeliness,
Yet keep our love aloof and strange,
Keep it from gluttonous eyes, from stairway gossip.
So be constant!

"As you are constant, so be various:
Love comes to sloth without variety.
Within the limits of our fair-paved garden
Let fancy like a Proteus range and change.
So be various!

"As you are various, so be woman:
Graceful in going as well armed in doing.
Be witty, kind, enduring, unsubjected:
Without you I keep heavy house.
So be woman!

"As you are woman, so be lovely:
As you are lovely, so be various,
Merciful as constant, constant as various,
So be mine, as I yours for ever."

Then as the singing ceased and the lyre ceased,
Down stepped proud Galatea with a sigh.
"Pygmalion, as you woke me from the stone,
So shall I you from bonds of sullen flesh.
Lovely I am, merciful I shall prove:
Woman I am, constant as various,
Not marble-hearted but your own true love.
Give me an equal kiss, as I kiss you."





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