VIRTUE! why first she brings not in Such gains, as gallant Sin. Has not his squeamish conscience quite Beggerd your Loyal Wight? Whilst the brave Rebell reigns upon Your royal Martyrs throne. 2 And then, she's not gentile. pray shew Me in the list of new Sheer Fashions so much as but The name of Virtue put. And must we plod in the plain rode Of our stale Grandsires Mode? 3 Besides, She's baseborn, & below A Gentleman: for how Can she pretend to Gallantry Who cannot be, yf high? What Exc'llance can in her be seen, Whose essence is the Mean? 4 Lastly, wherever she doth come She's viley troublesome; Putting her deerest Friends to great Expence of pains & sweat. Troth let her go for me: a guest Like her, when gone is best. 5 Thus dreams the Fool what pleases him, And thus talks in his dream. And let him talk: deer Virtue, he By blaming praiseth thee. Wise eyes would strait suspect thy rays Should Fools thy Lustre praise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WE WEAR THE MASK by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR LAMENT FOR [THE DEATH OF] THOMAS DAVIS by SAMUEL FERGUSON ECHOES: 6 by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY TO ATHENA by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE MOTHER HEART by NELLIE COOLEY ALDER THE LAY OF ST. ALOYS; A LEGEND OF BLOIS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |