Classic and Contemporary Poetry
LOVE AND FOLLY; FROM THE FABLES OF LA FONTAINE, by CHARLOTTE SMITH Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Love, who now deals to human hearts Last Line: "folly shall lead him." Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Charlotte Turner Subject(s): Fables; La Fontaine, Jean De (1621-1695); Love; Allegories | ||||||||
LOVE, who now deals to human hearts, Such ill thrown, yet resistless darts, That hapless mortals can't withstand them, Was once less cruel and perverse, Nor did he then his shafts disperse, So much at random. It happened, that the thoughtless child Was rambling thro' a flowery wild, Like idle lad in school vacation; Where sauntering now, and now at rest, Stroll'd Folly, who to Love address'd His conversation. On trifles he had much to say, Then laughing he propos'd to play, And stake against Love's bow his bauble; The quiver'd gamester smil'd and won, But testy Folly soon began To fret and squabble. Loud and more loud the quarrel grows; From words the wranglers went to blows, For Folly's rage is prompt to rise; Till bleeding Love a martyr stood-- A stroke from Folly's weapon rude, Put out his eyes. Then wild with anguish, Venus pray'd, For vengeance on the idiot's head, And begg'd of cloud-compelling Jove, His swiftest lightening, to destroy, The mischievous malignant boy That blinded Love. "Folly is immortal," Jove replied, "But, tho' your prayer must be denied, "An endless penance is decreed him; "For Love, tho' blind, will reign around "The world; but still where-ever found, "Folly shall lead him." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CYMON AND IPHIGENIA by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD PARSON by GEOFFREY CHAUCER THE COCK AND THE FOX, OR THE TALE OF THE NUN'S PRIEST by GEOFFREY CHAUCER TIME, REAL AND IMAGINARY; AN ALLEGORY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE GLADYS AND HER ISLAND; AN IMPERFECT TALE WITH DOUBTFUL MORAL by JEAN INGELOW THE WOLF AND THE DOG by JEAN DE LA FONTAINE ELEGIAC SONNET: 2. WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF SPRING by CHARLOTTE SMITH ELEGIAC SONNET: 4. TO THE MOON by CHARLOTTE SMITH ELEGIAC SONNET: 44. WRITTEN IN THE CHURCH YARD AT MIDDLETON IN SUSSEX by CHARLOTTE SMITH |
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