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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CAELICA: 26 by FULKE GREVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: WAS EVER MAN SO OVER-MATCHED WITH BOY?
Last Line: WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE NOT FAR AT ODDS.

Was ever man so over-matched with boy?
When I am thinking how to keep him under,
He plays and dallies me with every toy;
With pretty stealths, he makes me laugh and wonder.

When with the child, the child-thoughts of mine own
Do long to play and toy as well as he;
The boy is sad, and melancholy grown,
And with one humor cannot long agree.

Straight do I scorn and bid the child away;
The boy knows fury, and soon showeth me
Caelica's sweet eyes, where love and beauty play;
Fury turns into love of that I see.
If these mad changes do make children gods,
Women and children are not far at odds.



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