Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO HIS BETTER BELOVED THAN KNOWN FRIEND, MR. BROWNE, by JOHN ONLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO HIS BETTER BELOVED THAN KNOWN FRIEND, MR. BROWNE, by                    
First Line: Such is the fate of some (write) nowadays
Last Line: Browne's muse the fair brown woman still will call.
Subject(s): Browne, William (1591-1645)


SUCH is the fate of some (write) nowadays
Thinking to win and wear, they break the bays.
As a slow footman striving near to come
A swifter that before him far doth run,
Puff'd with the hope of Honour's goal to win,
Runs out of breath yet furthest off from him:
So do our most of poets whose Muse flies
About for honour, catch poor butterflies.
But thou, fair friend, not rank'd shall be 'mongst those
That make a mountain where a molehill grows;
Thou whose sweet-singing pen such lays hath writ
That in an old way teacheth us new wit;
Thou that wert born and bred to be the man
To turn Apollo's glory into Pan,
And when thou lists of shepherds leave to write,
To great Apollo add again his light.
For never yet like shepherds forth have come
Whose pipes so sweetly play as thine have done.
Fair Muse of Browne, whose beauty is as pure
As women brown that fair and long'st endure,
Still may'st thou as thou dost a lover move,
And as thou dost each mover may thee love,
Whilst I myself in love with thee must fall,
Browne's Muse the fair brown woman still will call.





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