Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ELEGIAC SONNET: 57. TO DEPENDENCE, by CHARLOTTE SMITH


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ELEGIAC SONNET: 57. TO DEPENDENCE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Dependence! Heavy, heavy are thy chains
Last Line: Still to the mountain nymph may offer mine.
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Charlotte Turner
Subject(s): Women's Rights; Feminism


Dependence! heavy, heavy are thy chains,
And happier they who from the dangerous sea,
Or the dark mine, procure with ceaseless pains
An hard-earn'd pittance -- than who trust to thee!
More blest the hind, who from his bed of flock
Starts -- when the birds of morn their summons give,
And waken'd by the lark -- "the shepherd's clock,"
Lives but to labour -- labouring but to live.
More noble than the sycophant, whose art
Must heap with taudry flowers thy hated shrine;
I envy not the meed thou canst impart
To crown his service -- while, tho' Pride combine
With Fraud to crush me -- my unfetter'd heart
Still to the Mountain Nymph may offer mine.





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