FOR mighty Wars I thought to Tune my Lute, And make my Measures to my Subject suit. Six Feetfor ev'ry Verse the Muse design'd: But @3Cupid,@1 laughing, when he sawmy Mind, From ev'ry Second Verse a Foot purloin'd. Who gave Thee, Boy, this Arbitrary sway, On Subjects, not thyown, Commands to lay, Who @3Phoebus@1 only and his Laws obey? 'Tis more absurd than if the @3Queen of Love@1 Should in @3Minerva's@1 arms to Battel move; Or Manly @3Pallas@1 from that Queen should take Her Torch, and o're the dying Lover shake. In fields as well may @3Cynthia@1 sow the Corn, Or @3Ceres@1 wind in Woods the Bugle Horn. As well may @3Phoebus@1 quit the trembling String, For Sword and Shield; and @3Mars@1 may learn to Sing. Already thy Dominions are too large; Be not ambitious of a Foreign Charge. If thou wilt Reign e're all, and ev'ry where, The God of Musick for his Harp may fear. Thus when with soaring Wings I seek Renown, Thou pluck'st my Pinnions, and I flutter down. Cou'd I on such mean Thoughts my Muse employ, I want a Mistress or a Blooming Boy. Thus I complain'd: his Bow the Stripling bent, And chose an Arrow fit for his Intent. The Shaft his purpose fatally pursues; Now, Poet, there's a Subject for thy Muse. He said, (too well, alas, he knows his Trade,) For in my Breast a Mortal Wound he made. Far hence, ye proud @3Hexameters,@1 remove, My Verse is pac'd and tramel'd into love. With Myrtle Wreaths my thoughtful brows inclose, While in unequal Verse I sing my Woes. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY FAMILIAR DREAM by PAUL VERLAINE PROGRESSIVE HEALTH by CARL DENNIS THE TRIUMPHS OF OWEN: A FRAGMENT by THOMAS GRAY THE BABIE by JEREMIAH EAMES RANKIN TO THE ONE OF FICTIVE MUSIC by WALLACE STEVENS JANUARY MORNING by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS |