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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE RETURN by APHRA BEHN

Poet Analysis

First Line: AMYNTAS! WHILST YOU / HAVE AN ART TO SUBDUE
Last Line: SOME HARD-HEARTED NYMPH MAY RETURN YOU YOUR OWN!

Amyntas! whilst you
Have an art to subdue,
And can conquer a heart with a look or a smile;
You pitiless grow,
And no faith will allow;
'Tis the glory you seek when you rifle the spoil.

Your soft warring eyes,
When prepared for the prize,
Can laugh at the aids of my feeble disdain;
You can humble the foe,
And soon make her to know,
Though she arms her with pride, that her efforts are vain.

But, shepherd! beware,
Though a victor you are,
A tyrant was never secure on his throne;
Whilst proudly you aim
New conquests to gain,
Some hard-hearted nymph may return you your own!



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