FAIR Laurel, that the only witness art To that discourse, which underneath thy shade Our grief-swoll'n breasts did lovingly impart, With vows as true as e'er Religion made: If (forced by our sighs) the flame shall fly Of our kind love, and get within thy rind, Be wary, gentle bay, and shriek not high, When thou dost such unusual fervour find; Suppress the fire; for should it take thy leaves, Their crackling would betray us, and thy glory (Honour's fair symbol) dies; thy trunk receives But heat sufficient for our future story: And when our sad misfortunes vanquish'd lie, Embrace our fronts in sign of memory. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOSEPH'S COAT by GEORGE HERBERT THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE THE RETORT by GEORGE POPE MORRIS THE OWL by PHILIP EDWARD THOMAS FETES GALANTES: MANDOLINE by PAUL VERLAINE EPISTLES ON THE CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF WOMEN: 2 by LUCY AIKEN |