They meet but with unwholesome springs, And summers which infectious are; They hear but when the mermaid sings, And only see the falling star, Who ever dare Affirm no woman chaste and fair. Go cure your fevers, and you'll say The dog days scorch not all the year; In copper mines no longer stay, But travel to the West, and there The right ones see, And grant all gold's not alchemy. What madman, 'cause the glow-worm's flame Is cold, swears there's no warmth in fire? 'Cause some make forfeti of their name, And slave themselves to man's desire, Shall the sex free From guilt, damned to the bondage be? Nor grieve Castara, though 'twere frail, Thy virtue then would brighter shine When thy example should prevail, And every woman's faith be thine: And were there none, 'Tis majesty to rule alone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 83 by ALFRED TENNYSON MANHATTAN ARMING by WALT WHITMAN A SONG OF PROGRESS by ALEXANDER ANDERSON THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): MEDEA'S DREAM by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS SOUL, WHEREFORE FRET THEE? by GERTRUDE BLOEDE |