PROTEUS Come, noble nymphs, and do not hide The joys, for which you so provide: SARON If not to mingle with the men, What do you here? Go home again. PORTUNUS Your dressings do confess By what we see, so curious parts Of Pallas' and Arachne's arts, That you could mean no less. PROTEUS Why do you wear the silk-worm's toils, Or glory in the shell-fish spoils, Or strive to show the grains of ore That you have gathered on the shore, Whereof to make a stock To graft the greener emerald on, Or any better-watered stone? SARON Or ruby of the rock? PROTEUS Why do you smell of ambergris, Of which was formed Neptune's niece, The queen of love; unless you can, Like sea-born Venus, love a man? SARON Try, put yourselves unto it. CHORUS Your looks, your smiles, and thoughts that meet, Ambrosian hands and silver feet, Do promise you will do it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHEN ON THE MARGE OF EVENING by LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY GEORGE WASHINGTON by JOHN HALL INGHAM SONNET by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE TRAGEDY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH BOB CRUIKSHANKS by ALEXANDER ANDERSON THE BALLADE OF THE GOLDEN HORN by LEONARD BACON (1887-1954) |