WHY should we murmur, why repine, Phyllis, at thy fate, or mine? Like pris'ners, why do we those fetters shake; Which neither thou, nor I can break? There is a better way to baffle Fate, If mortals would but mind it, And 'tis not hard to find it: Who would be happy, must be desperate; He must despise those stars that fright Only fools that dread the night; Time and chance he must outbrave, He that crouches is their slave. Thus the wise Pagans, ill at ease, Bravely chastis'd their surly Deities. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN A MYRTLE SHADE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE CRUEL MISTRESS by THOMAS CAREW A QUESTION by JOHN MILLINGTON SYNGE A DREAM, OR THE TYPE OF THE RISING SUN by JEAN ADAMS HYMN IX by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 38 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH WHOM EARTH HAS TAUGHT: REVELATION by MARGARET PERKINS BRIGGS |