I THERE'S no woman, but I'm caught Whilst she looks with kind eyes on me; If I love not then, the fault Is unjustly cast upon me: They are to be blam'd, not I, It with freedom still I hover; Were I us'd but courteously I should soon become a lover. II Did I any one exclude For her dye, or for her feature, I should grant myself a rude Mannerless, hard-hearted creature: But since I except 'gainst none By whom I am not contemned, If I can't find such an one, Pray tell, who's to be condemned? III Not by frowns, but smiles, my heart, (I declare 't) is to be chained; On fair terms with it I'll part, But by foul 'twill ne'er be gained: Take then other tasks in hand You, who lour, and scorn to crave it; But who's kind shall it command, And for th' asking she shall have it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON A TREE FALLEN ACROSS THE ROAD (TO HEAR US TALK) by ROBERT FROST DECEMBER 31ST by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE BLIND OLD MILTON by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN ON THE MASSACRE by CHAIM NACHMAN BIALIK |