Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WOMAN'S HONOUR, by JOHN WILMOT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WOMAN'S HONOUR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Love bade me hope, and I obeyed
Last Line: In women, mean distrustful shame.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of
Subject(s): Women


LOVE bade me hope, and I obeyed;
Phyllis continued still unkind;
'Then you may e'en despair,' he said,
'In vain I strive to change her mind.

'Honour 's got in, and keeps her heart;
Durst he but venture once abroad,
In my own right I'd take your part,
And show myself the mightier god.'

This hufling Honour domineers
In breasts where he alone has place;
But if true generous Love appears,
The heetor dares not show his face.

Let me still languish and complain,
Be most inhumanly denied;
I have some pleasure in my pain,
She can have none with all her pride.

I fall a sacrifice to Love,
She lives a wretch for Honour's make!
Whose tyrant does most cruel prove,
The difference is not hard to make.

Consider real Honour then.
You'll find hers cannot be the same.
'Tis noble confidence in men;
In women, mean distrustful shame.





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