Classic and Contemporary Poetry
POLYHYMNIA: THE YOUTH IN THE BOAT (FRAGMENT), by WILLIAM BASSE Poet's Biography First Line: When we our young and wanton houres Last Line: And one his load-star was..... Subject(s): Love; Youth | ||||||||
WHEN we our young and wanton houres Have spent in vaine delight, To shew you how celestiall powers At length can set us right; How they can frame our mindes unfixt Unto their just directions, When waveringly we reele betwixt Opinions or affections; How fatall it may sometimes prove Unto our frayle estate, Vainly to hate what we should love, And love what we should hate. 1. FOR some unknowne, but grievous crime Against the Gods committed, A young man on a time, (sad time, And young man to be pittyed) 2. Put forth to Sea (when Sea was swell'd With winde and tempest sore) Abourd a little Barque, which held Himselfe, and but two more. 3. As Master, Mate, and Sayler far'd This youth, and with his hand Rul'd Helme and Rudder, Sayle and Cord, And Boat both steer'd and man'd. 4. And though the building of this Boate Concernes my tale not much, Nor much it doth deserve your note The workmans name to touch 5. Her Keele was all of Cypresse built, Her Mast of fragrant Firre; Her Oares were Ivory, Sterne was guilt, And calk'd she was with Myrrh. 6. He that her Ship-wright was, and made Her timber-worke, is thought To be young Perdix, who this trade By Dedalus was taught. 7. Her Sayles, some say, Arachne wove, They were so richly done: And that Ulisses constant Love Her flaxen Cable spun. 8. And grant all this for true, (or true Though grant it to be thought) Yet works of Art, how short are you Of works by Nature wrought? 9. For though this Barke was but three strong, (Weake Vessel! strong but three,) Tall Ship from Indian voyage long Ne're brought such prize as she. 10. For with two Damsells was she lade, The one of beauty such The Captaine her his idoll made, And she him scorn'd as much. 11. The other though not all so bright As was her Mate; yet one That in him tooke all true delight, But he in her tooke none. 12. No other ballast (then) did trim This Ship: you may conceit His Love to one, one's Love to him, Made both sides equall weight. 13. And Needle (sure) she needed none By poynt or pole to passe, When he was Loadstone unto one, And one his Load-star was..... | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BETWEEN THE WARS by ROBERT HASS THE GOLDEN SHOVEL by TERRANCE HAYES ALONG WITH YOUTH by ERNEST HEMINGWAY THE BLACK RIVIERA by MARK JARMAN ELEGY ON MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE by WILLIAM BASSE |
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