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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


NECESSARY OBSERVATIONS: 20TH PRECEPT by THOMAS RANDOLPH

Poet Analysis

First Line: IF WITH A STRANGER THOU DISCOURSE, FIRST LEARN
Last Line: THEN DO THOU SPEAK, THAT HE MAY LEARN BY THEE.

If with a stranger thou discourse, first learn
By strictest observations to discern
If he be wiser than thyself; if so,
Be dumb, and rather choose by him to know:
But if thyself perchance the wiser be,
Then do thou speak, that he may learn by thee.



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