THE Ermine rather chose to die A martyr of its purity, Than that one uncouth soil should stain Its hitherto preserved skin; And thus resolv'd she thinks it good To write her whiteness in her blood. But I had rather die, than e'er Continue from my foulness clear; Nay, I suppose by that I live, That only doth destruction give: Madman I am, I turn mine eye On every side, but what doth lie Within, I can no better find Than if I ever had been blind. Is this the reason thou dost claim Thy sole prerogative, to frame Engines against thyself? O, fly Thyself as greatest enemy, And think thou sometimes life will get By a secure contemning it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROBINSON CRUSOE ['S STORY, OR ISLAND] by CHARLES EDWARD CARRYL THE ORACLES by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN AT A VACATION EXERCISE IN THE COLLEGE by JOHN MILTON AT HOME IN HEAVEN by JAMES MONTGOMERY ETUDE REALISTE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE CAMPS OF GREEN by WALT WHITMAN THE HERO OF VIMY; AN INCIDENT OF THE GREAT WAR by BRENT DOW ALLINSON |