Fair lovely maid, or if that title be Too weak, too feminine for nobler thee, Permit a name that more approaches truth, And let me call thee lovely charming youth. This last will justify my soft complaint, While that may serve to lessen my constraint; And without blushes I the youth pursue, When so much beauteous woman is in view. Against thy charms we struggle but in vain; With thy deluding form thou givest us pain, While the bright nymph betrays us to the swain. In pity to our sex sure thou wert sent, That we might love, and yet be innocent: For sure no crime with thee we can commit; Or if we should -- thy form excuses it. For who that gathers fairest flowers believes A snake lies hid beneath the fragrant leaves. Thou beauteous wonder of a different kind, Soft Cloris with the dear Alexis joined; Whene'er the manly part of thee would plead Thou tempts us with the image of the maid, While we the noblest passions do extend The love to Hermes, Aphrodite the friend. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SEA-MEW by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING STANZAS FOR MUSIC (1) by GEORGE GORDON BYRON NATURAL HISTORY by MOTHER GOOSE SONNET WRITTEN IN THE FALL OF 1914: 3 by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY THE PATRIOTIC MERCHANT PRINCE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS A SOCIETY MARTYR by JOHN CLINTON ANTHONY SALOME by GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE |