Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MAMILLIA: VERSES AGAINST THE GENTLEWOMEN OF SICILIA, by ROBERT GREENE Poet's Biography First Line: Since lady mild, too base in array, hath liv'd as Last Line: Fum'd with sweets, as sweet as chaste, no want but abundance. Subject(s): Sicily; Women | ||||||||
SINCE lady mild, too base in array, hath liv'd as an exile, None of account but stout; if plain, stale slut, not a courtress: Dames now-a-days, fie, none, if not new-guisèd in all points: Fancies fine, sauc'd with conceits, quick wits very wily, Words of a saint, but deeds guess how, feign'd faith to deceive men; Courtsies coy, no veil, but a vaunt, trick'd up like a Tuscan, Pac'd in print, brave lofty looks, not us'd with the vestals; In hearts, too, glorious, not a glance but fit for an empress: As minds most valorous, so strange in array, marry, stately; Up from the waist like a man, new guise to be cas'd in a doublet, Down to the foot perhaps like a maid, but hos'd to the kneestead, Some close-breech'd to the crotch for cold, tush, peace, 'tis a shame, sir! Hairs by birth as black as jet, what! art can amend them, A periwig frounc'd fast to the front, or curl'd with a bodkin; Hats from France, thick-pearl'd for pride and plum'd like a peacock; Ruffs of a size, stiff-starch'd to the neck, of lawn, marry, lawless; Gowns of silk, why, those be too bad, side, wide with a witness, Small and gent i' the waist, but backs as broad as a burgess; Needless naughts, as crisps and scarfs, worn à la Morisco, Fum'd with sweets, as sweet as chaste, no want but abundance. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV A FAREWELL TO FOLLY: CONTENT by ROBERT GREENE |
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