Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HATE (TO CERTAIN FOREIGN TRADUCERS OF ENGLAND), by WILLIAM WATSON


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HATE (TO CERTAIN FOREIGN TRADUCERS OF ENGLAND), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sirs, if the truth must needs be told
Last Line: Be cloistered and kept virginal.
Alternate Author Name(s): Watson, John William
Subject(s): Great Britain - Foreign Relations; Hate


SIRS, if the truth must needs be told,
We love not you that rail and scold;
And yet, my masters, you may wait
Till the Greek Calends for our hate.

No spendthrifts of our hate are we;
Our hate is used with husbandry.
We hold our hate too choice a thing
For light and careless lavishing.

We cannot, dare not, make it cheap!
For holy uses will we keep
A thing so pure, a thing so great
As Heaven's benignant gift of hate.

Is there no ancient, sceptred Wrong?
No torturing Power, endured too long?
Yea; and for these our hatred shall
Be cloistered and kept virginal.





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