Give me a mask, I'll join the masquerade, Playing the knave that charlatans I see, Flaunting in gaudy robes of dignity, May count me not a craftsman of their trade. Come vulgar words and manners to my aid, In popular art I'll take my base degree, All those rare sparks of genius banned shall be, Wherewith stale rogues of late fine tricks have played. And thus will I dance at the grand masqued-ball, 'Mid German knights, monks, kings in motley crew, Capped to by Harlequin, known to but few, With their blunt swords of lath cudgelled by all. That is their sport. Should I unmask, beware! I should dumbfounder every jail-bird there. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BOOK OF THEL by WILLIAM BLAKE STANZAS FOR MUSIC (1) by GEORGE GORDON BYRON SEA GODS: 2 by HILDA DOOLITTLE WOMEN MEN'S SHADOWS by BEN JONSON ENVOY: 5. TO MY NAME-CHILD by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON TO A LADY TO ANSWER DIRECTLY WITH YEA OR NAY by THOMAS WYATT |