Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A DIALOGUE, by THOMAS RANDOLPH


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DIALOGUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: My lalage, when I behold
Last Line: And thou canst make us freeze beneath the line.
Subject(s): Passion


THIRSIS. LALAGE.

Thir. MY Lalage, when I behold
So great a cold,
And not a spark of heat in thy desire,
I wonder what strange power of thine
Kindles in mine
So bright a flame, and such a burning fire.

Lal. Can Thirsis in philosophy
A true knight be,
And not have learn'd the power of the sun?
How he to sublunary things
A fervour brings,
Yet in himself is subject unto none?

Thir. But why within thy eyes appear
Never a tear,
That cause from mine perpetual showers to fall?
Lal. Fool, 'tis the power of fire, you know,
To melt the snow,
Yet has no moisture in itself at all.

Thir. How can I be, dear virgin, show,
Both fire and snow?
Do you, that are the cause, the reason tell;
More than [a] miracle to me
It seems to be,
That so much heat with so much cold should dwell.

Lal. The reason I will render thee
Why both should be.
Audacious Thirsis, in thy love too bold,
'Cause thy sauciness durst aspire
To such a fire.
Thy love is hot; but 'tis thy hope is cold.

Thir. Let pity move thy gentle breast
To one opprest;
This way or that, give ease to my desire,
And either let love's fire be lost
In hope's cold frost,
Or hope's cold frost be warm'd in love's quick fire.

Lal. O, neither, boy, neither of these
Shall work thy ease!
I'll pay thy rashness with immortal pain:
As hope doth strive to freeze thy flame,
Love melts the same:
As love doth melt it, hope doth freeze't again.

Thir. Come, gentle swains, lend me a groan
To ease my moan.
Chorus. Ah, cruel Love, how great a power is thine!
Under the poles although we lie,
Thou mak'st us fry:
And thou canst make us freeze beneath the line.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net