Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN PRAISE OF WOMEN IN GENERAL, by THOMAS RANDOLPH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN PRAISE OF WOMEN IN GENERAL, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: He is a parricide to his mother's name
Last Line: The fairest is the valiant amazon.
Subject(s): Women


HE is a parricide to his mother's name,
And with an impious hand murthers her fame,
That wrongs the praise of women: that dares write
Libels on saints, or with foul ink requite
The milk they lent us. Better sex, command
To your defence my more religious hand
At sword or pen. Yours was the nobler birth;
For you of man were made, man but of earth,
The son of dust; and though your sin did breed
His fall, again you rais'd him in your seed.
Adam in's sleep a gainful loss sustain'd,
That for one rib a better self regain'd;
Who had he not your blest creation seen,
An anchorite in paradise had been.
Why in this work did the creation rest,
But that Eternal Providence thought you best
Of all his six days' labour: beasts should do
Homage to man, but man should wait on you.
You are of comelier sight, of daintier touch,
A tender flesh, a colour bright, and such
As Parians see in marble; skin more fair,
More glorious head, and far more glorious hair;
Eyes full of grace and quickness; purer roses
Blush in your cheeks; a milder white composes
Your stately fronts; your breath, more sweet than his,
Breathes spice, and nectar drops at every kiss.
Your skins are smooth; bristles on theirs do grow,
Like quills of porcupines; rough wool doth flow
O'er all their faces; you approach more near
The form of angels, they like beasts appear.
If then in bodies, where the souls do dwell,
You better us, do then our souls excel?
No; we in souls equal perfection see:
There can in them nor male nor female be.
Boast we of knowledge, you have more than we:
You were the first ventur'd to pluck the tree,
And that more rhetoric in your tongues doth lie,
Let him dispute against, that dares deny
Your least commands, and not persuaded be
With Samson's strength and David's piety
To be your willing captives; virtue, sure,
Were blind as fortune, should she choose the poor
Rough cottage, man, to live in, and despise
To dwell in you -- the statelier edifice.
Thus you are prov'd the better sex, and we
Must all repent that in our pedigree
We choose the father's name, where should we take
The mother's -- a more honour'd blood, 'twould make
Our generation sure and certain be,
And I'd believe some faith in heraldry!
Thus, perfect creatures, if detraction rise
Against your sex, dispute but with your eyes.
Your hand, your lip, your brow: there will be sent
So subtle and so strong an argument
Will teach the stoic his affection too,
And call the cynic from his tub to woo.
Thus mustering up your beauteous troops, go on:
The fairest is the valiant Amazon.





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