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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NOT FAIRE, by ABRAHAM COWLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Tis very true, I thought you once as faire Last Line: As puritans do the pope, and papists luther do. | |||
'TIS very true, I thought you once as faire, As women in th' Idea are. Whatever here seems beauteous, seem'd to be But a faint Metaphor of Thee. But then (methoughts) there something shin'd within, Which cast this Lustre o're thy Skinne. Nor could I choose but count it the Sun's Light, Which made this Cloud appear so bright. But since I knew thy falshood and thy pride, And all thy thousand faults beside; A very Moore (methinks) plac'd near to Thee, White, as his Teeth, would seem to be. So men, (they say) by Hell's delusion led, Have ta'ne a Succubus to their bed; Believe it fair, and themselves happy call, 'Till the cleft Foot discovers all: Then they start from't, halfe Ghosts themselves with fear; And Devill as 'tis, it does appear. So since against my will I found Thee foul, Deform'd and crooked in thy Soule, My Reason strait did to my Senses shew, That they might be mistaken too: Nay when the world but knowes how false you are, There's not a Man will think you fair. Thy shape will monstrous in their fancies be, They'l call their Eyes as false as Thee. Be what thou wilt; hate will present thee so, As Puritans do the Pope, and Papists Luther do. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AGAINST HOPE by ABRAHAM COWLEY ON THE DEATH OF MR. CRASHAW by ABRAHAM COWLEY ON THE DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM HERVEY by ABRAHAM COWLEY THE CHRONICLE; A BALLAD by ABRAHAM COWLEY TO HIS MISTRESS by ABRAHAM COWLEY A DEDICATORY ELEGY TO THE ... UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE by ABRAHAM COWLEY |
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