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THE ANGEL IN THE HOUSE: BOOK 2. CANTO 9. PRELUDE. NURSING OF CIVILITY by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE

Poet Analysis

First Line: LO, HOW THE WOMAN ONCE WAS WOO'D
Last Line: THIS NURSLING OF CIVILITY.

LO, how the woman once was woo'd:
Forth leapt the savage from his lair,
And fell'd her, and to nuptials rude
He dragg'd her, bleeding, by the hair.
From that to Chloe's dainty wiles
And Portia's dignified consent,
What distance! But these Pagan styles
How far below Time's fair intent!
Siegfried sued Kriemhild. Sweeter life
Could Love's self covet? Yet 'tis sung
In what rough sort he chid his wife
For want of curb upon her tongue!
Shall Love, where last I leave him, halt?
Nay; none can fancy or foresee
To how strange bliss may time exalt
This nursling of civility.



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