Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PLEASURE RECONCILED TO VIRTUE, SELECTION, by BEN JONSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: An eye of looking back were well Last Line: Though place here make you known. | ||||||||
An eye of looking back were well, Or any murmur that would tell Your thoughts, how you were sent And went, To walk with pleasure, not to dwell. These, these are hours by virtue spared Herself, she being her own reward, But she will have you know That though Her sports be soft, her life is hard. You must return unto the hill, And there advance With labour, and inhabit still That height and crown From whence you ever may look down Upon triumphed Chance. She, she it is, in darkness shines. 'Tis she that still herself refines, By her own light, to every eye More seen, more known when vice stands by. And though a stranger here on earth, In heaven she hath her right of birth. There, there is virtue's seat, Strive to keep her your own; 'Tis only she can make you great, Though place here make you known. | 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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