Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOURTH BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 18, by THOMAS CAMPION



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FOURTH BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 18, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Think'st thou to seduce me with words that have no meaning?
Last Line: But alas! Who less could do that found so good occasion!
Variant Title(s): "think'st Thou To Seduce Me Then"";
Subject(s): Courtship; Language; Seduction; Words; Vocabulary


THINK'ST thou to seduce me then with words that have no meaning?
Parrots so can learn to prate, our speech by pieces gleaning:
Nurses teach their children so about the time of weaning.

Learn to speak first, then to woo: to wooing much pertaineth:
He that courts us, wanting art, soon falters when he feigneth,
Looks asquint on his discourse and smiles when he complaineth.

Skilful anglers hide their hooks, fit baits for every season;
But with crooked pins fish thou, as babes do that want reason;
Gudgeons only can be caught with such poor tricks of treason.

Ruth forgive me, if I erred, from human heart compassion,
When I laughed sometimes too much to see thy foolish fashion:
But alas! who less could do that found so good occasion!





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