I HAVE oft wond'red why thou didst elect Thy mistress of a stuff none could affect, That wore his eyes in the right place. A thing Made up, when Nature's powers lay slumbering. One, where all pregnant imperfections met To make her sex's scandal: Teeth of jet, Hair dy'd in orp'ment, from whose fretful hue Canidia her highest witchcrafts drew. A lip most thin and pale, but such a mouth Which like the poles is stretched North and South A face so colour'd, and of such a form, As might defiance bid unto a storm: And the complexion of her sallow hide Like a wrack'd body wash'd up by the tide: Eyes small: a nose so to her vizard glued As if 'twould take a Planet's altitude. Last for her breath, 'tis somewhat like the smell That does in Ember weeks on Fish-street dwell; Or as a man should fasting scent the Rose Which in the savoury Bear-garden grows. If a Fox cures the paralytical, Hadst thou ten palsies, she'd outstink them all. But I have found thy plot: sure thou didst try To put thyself past hope of jealousy: And whilst unlearned fools the senses please, Thou cur'st thy appetite by a disease; As many use, to kill an itch withal, Quicksilver or some biting mineral. Dote upon handsome things each common man With little study and less labour can; But to make love to a deformity, Only commends thy great ability, Who from hard-favour'd objects draw'st content, As estriches from iron nutriment. Well, take her, and like mounted George, in bed Boldly achieve thy Dragon's maiden-head: Where (though scarce sleep) thou mayst rest confident None dares beguile thee of thy punishment: The sin were not more foul that he should commit, Than is that She with whom he acted it. Yet take this comfort: when old age shall raze, Or sickness ruin many a good face, Thy choice cannot impair; no cunning curse Can mend that night-piece, that is, make her worse. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TIME, REAL AND IMAGINARY; AN ALLEGORY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE DIBDIN'S GHOST by EUGENE FIELD VERSES WHY BURNT by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR THE THREE KINGS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW WHEN I BUY PICTURES by MARIANNE MOORE MY LIFE by HENRY DAVID THOREAU ANOTHER REAPER by WILLIAM H. ARMSTRONG III FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: MAN'S GUARD AGAINST DEATH by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE LAST BALLADE; MASTER FRANCOIS VILLON LOQUITUR by THOMAS BEER |