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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE DUCHESS OF BUCKINGHAM, by ABRAHAM COWLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: If I should say, that in your face were seene Last Line: But what's more possible, t' enjoy you long. | |||
IF I should say, that in your face were seene, Nature's best picture of the Cyprian Queene; If I should sweare under Minerva's Name, Poets (who Prophets are) foretold your fame; The future age would thinke it flatterie, But to the present, which can witnesse be, 'Twould seeme beneath your high deserts, as farre, As you above the rest of Women are. When Mannors' name with Villiers' joyn'd I see, How doe I reverence your Nobilitie! But when the vertues of your stocke I view, (Envi'd in your dead Lord, admir'd in you) I halfe adore them; for what woman can Besides your selfe (nay I might say what man) Both Sexe, and Birth, and Fate, and yeeres excell In mind, in fame, in worth, in living well? O how had this begot Idolatrie, If you had liv'd in the World's infancie, When man's too much Religion made the best Or Deities, or Semygods at least? But we, forbidden this by pietie, Or, if we were not, by your modestie, Will make our hearts an Altar, and there pray Not to, but for you; nor that England may Enjoy your equall, when you once are gone, But what's more possible, t' enjoy you long. | 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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