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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CAELICA: 19 by FULKE GREVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: AH, SILLY CUPID, DO YOU MAKE IT COY
Last Line: IS WHEN BOTH YOUNG AND OLD IN TRAFFIC BE.

Ah, silly Cupid, do you make it coy
To keep your seat in Cala's furrowed face?
Think in her beauty what you did enjoy,
And do not service done you so disgrace.

She that refused not any shaft you shot,
Lent dews to youth and sparks to old desire;
If such flat homage be so soon forgot,
Many good fellows will be out of hire.

Good archers ever have two bows at least;
With beauty faded shoot the elder sort,
For though all be not to shoot at the best,
Yet archers with their butting-bows make sport.
The glory that men in good kingdoms see
Is when both young and old in traffic be.



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