Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, REASON AND VANITY; AN APOLOGUE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

REASON AND VANITY; AN APOLOGUE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Appeal to reason!' writes a sage
Last Line: "I scarcely feel it now at all!"
Subject(s): Reason; Intellect; Rationalism; Brain; Mind; Intellectuals


"APPEAL to Reason!" writes a sage
Whose book, on many a glowing page,
Would teach the reader to control
The workings of the human soul.
The plan, no doubt, is often wise,
But, should it fail, let me advise
('T is safe to try it!) an appeal
The hardest heart is sure to feel;
When Reason turns away her ear,
Who knows but Vanity may hear?
As Chloe stood, one summer's day, --
Young, giddy, handsome, vain, and gay, --
Before her mirror, and essayed
Her native charms by art to aid,
A vagrant bee came buzzing round,
And Chloe, frightened at the sound,
Cried, "Mary, help! Go, Lizzie, fetch
A broom and kill the little wretch!"
Too late! despite the bustling maids,
The wanton imp at once invades
Poor Chloe's lip, -- the saucy thing!
And fixes there his ugly sting.
The culprit caught, the maids prepare
To kill the monster then and there;
When, trembling for his life, the Bee
Makes this extenuating plea:
"Forgive! O beauteous queen, forgive
My sad mistake; for, as I live,
Your mouth (I'm sorry, Goodness knows!)
I surely took it for a rose!"
"Poor insect!" Chloe sighed, "I vow
'T were very hard to kill him now,
No harm the little fellow meant,
And then he seems so penitent;
Besides, the pain was very small,
I scarcely feel it now at all!"





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