Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ANAGRAM. VIRTUE ALONE THY BLISS, by THOMAS RANDOLPH



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ANAGRAM. VIRTUE ALONE THY BLISS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Descent of birth is a vain good
Last Line: I say, needs his expression must be weak.


DESCENT of birth is a vain good,
Doubtfully sprung from others' blood;
Wealth, though it be the worldling's bait,
Wise men but use to make up weight.
Wit in a woman I scarce know,
Whether it be a praise, or no:
Beauty's a glorious flow'r, but gone
And wither'd ere the spring be done.
All these thou dost as jewels wear;
But more thy own perfections are:
For thine a nobler blood shall be,
Whose pure descent flows but from thee.
Thy wealth is goodness -- such a store
As is more precious than the ore
That loads the yearly fleets of Spain,
For which the naked Indian's slain.
Thy wit so chaste, thou might'st have been,
Not Sappho, but the Sheba queen!
A beauty thou thyself hast made,
Whose rose and lily shall not fade.
Set in the soul, not in the face --
That garden is a fading place.
So small a piece! Then, if the work be shown,
This would commend you most -- it is your own.
Pardon, I can't express the thousand bliss
I wish you; but the sum of all is this,
I'll pray thou may'st so happy be
As thy best-honour'd beadman is in thee;
Except but heaven, and he that more will speak,
I say, needs his expression must be weak.





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