Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO MOLIERE, by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: A thousand envious wits in vain Last Line: So much you would not earn their spite. Alternate Author Name(s): Boileau, Nicolas Subject(s): Moliere (jean Poquelin) (1622-1673) | ||||||||
A THOUSAND envious wits in vain, Moliere, presume with false disdain To censure thy most brilliant page. Its solid sense, its simple ease, Will travel on from age to age, And all posterity shall please. How pleasantly you laugh or smile, How learnedly you feel the while. Did he who laid Numantia low, And Carthage bowed beneath the yoke, Whom we by name of Terence know, Than you more excellently joke? Your Muse right usefully, as well As pleasantly, the truth can tell. All men may profit at your school: All there, is true and good and fine; And, while you seem to play the fool, You teach as a profound divine. Then let the envious wretches scold; In vain by them 'tis widely told You with the vulgar find success, But are not fit for ears polite. If you would please a little less, So much you would not earn their spite. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LA BONNE COMEDIE by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON DRINKING SONG by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX VERBATIM FROM BOILEAU by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX ITS ORIGIN by NICOLAS BOILEAU-DESPREAUX THE SEALS IN PENOBSCOT BAY by KAREN SWENSON HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 7. 'SIENA MI FE' by EZRA POUND ACROSS THE STREET by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH A FRESHET by ANTIPHILUS OF BYZANTIUM FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: A NIGHT-SCENE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE CONSOLATION OF PHILOSOPHY: BOOK 3 by ANICIUS MANLIUS SEVERINUS BOETHIUS |
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