Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PROLOGUE DESIGNED FOR MR. D'URFEY'S LAST PLAY, by ALEXANDER POPE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Grown old in rhyme, 'twere barbarous to discard Last Line: Nor force him to be damn'd, to get his living. Subject(s): D'urfey, Thomas (1653-1723); Plays & Playwrights | ||||||||
Grown old in Rhyme, 'twere barbarous to discard Your persevering, unexhausted Bard: Damnation follows Death in other Men, But your damn'd Poet lives and writes again. Th' advent'rous Lover is successful still, Who strives to please the Fair against her Will: Be kind, and make him in his Wishes easy, Who in your own Despite has strove to please ye. He scorn'd to borrow from the Wits of yore; But ever writ, as none e'er writ before. You modern Wits, should each Man bring his Claim, Have desperate Debentures on your Fame; And little wou'd be left you, I'm afraid, If all your Debts to Greece and Rome were paid. From his deep Fund our Author largely draws; Nor sinks his Credit lower than it was. Tho' Plays for Honour in old Time he made, 'Tis now for better Reasons -- to be paid. Believe him, he has known the World too long, And seen the Death of much Immortal Song. He says, poor Poets lost, while Players won, As Pimps grow rich, while Gallants are undone. Tho' Tom the Poet writ with Ease and Pleasure, The Comick Tom abounds in other Treasure. Fame is at best an unperforming Cheat; But 'tis substantial Happiness to eat -- Let Ease, his last Request, be of your giving, Nor force him to be damn'd, to get his Living. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ENDING WITH A LINE FROM LEAR by MARVIN BELL SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#20): 1. SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL SOUNDS OF THE RESURRECTED DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS (#20): 2. SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL YOUR SHAKESPEARE by MARVIN BELL TO AN ARTIST, TO TAKE HEART by LOUISE BOGAN THE SAVING WAY by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE FOX WHO WATCHED FOR THE MIDNIGHT SUN by NORMAN DUBIE YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE SAY by JAMES GALVIN A FAREWELL TO LONDON IN THE YEAR 1715 by ALEXANDER POPE |
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