Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AN ELEGY (5), by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Can beauty that did prompt me first to write Last Line: Love to my heart, and fortune to my lines. | ||||||||
Can beauty that did prompt me first to write, Now threaten, with those means she did invite? Did her perfections call me on to gaze, Then like, then love; and now would they amaze? Or was she gracious afar off, but near A terror? Or is all this but my fear? That as the water makes things, put in't, straight, Crooked appear; so that doth my conceit: I can help that with boldness; and love sware, And fortune once, to assist the spirits that dare. But which shall lead me on? Both these are blind: Such guides men use not, who their way would find, Except the way be error to those ends: And then the best are, still, the blindest friends! O how a lover may mistake! To think, Or love, or fortune blind, when they but wink To see men fear: or else for truth, and state, Because they would free justice imitate, Veil their own eyes, and would impartially Be brought by us to meet our destiny. If it be thus; come love, and fortune go, I'll lead you on; or if my fate will so, That I must send one first, my choice assigns, Love to my heart, and fortune to my lines. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 4. HER TRIUMPH by BEN JONSON A CELEBRATION OF CHARIS: 5. HIS DISCOURSE WITH CUPID by BEN JONSON A FIT OF RHYME AGAINST RHYME [OR, RIME] by BEN JONSON A NYMPH'S PASSION by BEN JONSON A SONNET, TO THE NOBLE LADY, THE LADY MARY WROTH by BEN JONSON AN ODE TO HIMSELF by BEN JONSON ANSWER TO MASTER WITHER'S SONG, 'SHALL I, WASTING IN DESPAIR?' by BEN JONSON EPICOENE; OR, THE SILENT WOMAN: FREEDOM IN DRESS by BEN JONSON EPIGRAM: 118. ON GUT by BEN JONSON |
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