Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EPISTLE, by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: That you may see your letters, use Last Line: When wanton, and my verses, die. | ||||||||
THAT you may see your letters, use Both to transfer your verse and muse, And bring with them so fresh a heat Able new Poems to beget; Yet such as may no more compare With yours, than echoing voices dare -- I from my prose and Friday time Cannot but send thus much in rhyme. Sir, your grave Author had no cause To give our sense of seeing, laws, For sure ill eyes will sooner need Medicines to judge of greyhound's speed, Than other rules, since who is he So inward blind as not to see That overtaking, going by, Doth clearly show where odds doth lie. Nor hath the eye an object more Distinct than this in all its power. All judgments else (I think) but this A little too uncertain is, To overrule a favouring eye And partial minds to satisfy. And I count nothing victory, But when all clamour too doth die; In all Romances, the good knight With monsters (after men) doth fight. Then you have fully got the field When Philip and James white do yield, So likewise nothing can adorn Our triumph, but your captur'd horn. You have no cause to fear that we Will still appeal to Salisbury, The Paddock Course, and dieting. Shall we for Wanton say a thing Which for the worst cur might be said Which ever yet in slip was led? No, from a straight course at the hare Lies no appeal at any bar; In one thing only I foresee Wanton will still unhappy be: Snap will live in your poetry When Wanton, and my verses, die. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A LOVER AND HIS MISTRESS by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN A FAREWELL by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN ELEGIE ON D.D. by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN EPITAPH ON LADY RICH by SIDNEY GODOLPHIN |
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