Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE POETESS'S HASTY RESOLUTION by MARGARET LUCAS CAVENDISH

First Line: READING MY VERSES, I LIKED THEM SO WELL
Last Line: WIPE OFF MY TEARES WITH HANDKERCHIEFES OF PRAISE.
Subject(s): POETRY & POETS;
Reading my Verses, I like't them so well,
@3Selfe-love@1 did make my @3Judgement@1 to rebell.
Thinking them so good, I thought more to write;
Considering not how others would them like.
I writ so fast, I thought, if I liv'd long,
A @3Pyramid@1 of @3Fame@1 to build thereon.
@3Reason@1 observing which way I was bent,
Did stay my hand, and ask't me what I meant;
Will you, said shee, thus waste your time in vaine,
On that which in the World small praise shall gaine?
For shame leave off, sayd shee, the @3Printer@1 spare,
Hee'le loose by your @3ill Poetry@1, I feare
Besides the World hath already such a @3weight@1
Of uselesse Bookes, as it is over fraught.
Then pitty take, doe the World a good turne,
And all you write cast in the fire, and burne.
Angry I was, and @3Reason@1 strook away,
When I did heare, what shee to me did say.
Then all in haste I to the @3Presse@1 it sent,
Fearing @3Perswasion@1 might my @3Book@1 prevent:
But now 'tis done, with greife repent doe I,
Hang down my @3head@1 with @3shame, blush, sigh@1, and @3cry@1.
@3Take pitty@1, and my drooping @3Spirits@1 raise,
Wipe off my @3teares@1 with @3Handkerchiefes@1 of @3Praise@1.



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