Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MELANCHOLIE by JOSEPH BEAUMONT

First Line: OUT HIDEOUS MONSTER; IN THY NAME
Last Line: WHICH CAN BE SOBER, YET NOT DULL.
Subject(s): GRIEF; HELL; SELF-PITY; SORROW; SADNESS;
OUT hideous Monster; in thy Name
Blacknesse & furie dwell:
Home to thy Native Hell,
Whose foule Complexion is ye same,

The same with thine: both Hell & Thee
Proud furious DISCONTENT
At once begat, & sent
DARKNESSE your Monstrous Nurse to bee.

She taught you both to feed & feast
Upon your Selves. Feed on,
And let poor Man alone;
The worst of food becomes you best.

Your Parallel will truly hold;
Or if some Qualitie
In you doe disagree,
Be that ye @3hot Hell@1, Thou ye @3cold.@1

Goe then & temper Her; goe dwell
Secure from feare of Joy:
No Sweets will e'r annoy
Or interrupt ye Pangs of Hell.

Goe: that foule Monstrous leaden load
Which round about Thee twines,
With our Desires combines
And tuggs Thee downe to that steep Road.

No; I must not beleeve Thee: Goe;
That palenesse of thy Look
Indeed I once mistook
For Pieties face, & lov'd it so.

Thy sober garb demure & chast
Seem'd a fair Preparation
For Heavnly Contemplation,
Which all this World away doth cast.

Needs wouldst Thou, grown severe, despise
The Worlds fantastik Joyes,
And let no fading Toyes
Or charme thine Eares, or win thine Eyes.

Alas, poore Feind it will not doe:
I know Thee now to bee
But ye more Devill: Hee
When worst, does in his best Clothes goe;

And those are thy white Looks: begone
And take along wth Thee
Thy wretched Daughters Three,
@3Doubt@1, @3Fear@1, & @3Desperation.@1

An active cheerly Heart's for Mee;
An Heart of lively Fire,
Flaming with brave Desire
Able to melt thy Lead & Thee.

An Heart of Comfort allways full,
Yet taught to beare her part
In sturdyest Greife; an Heart,
Which can be sober, yet not dull.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net