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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


AMORETTI: 32 by EDMUND SPENSER

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE PAINFUL SMITH WITH FORCE OF FERVENT HEAT
Last Line: AND SHE TO STONES AT LENGTH ALL FROSEN TURNE?
Subject(s): HEAT; COLD; DESPAIR;

The paynefull smith with force of fervent heat
The hardest yron soone doth mollify;
That with his heavy sledge he can it beat,
And fashion to what he it list apply.
Yet cannot all these flames in which I fry
Her hart, more harde then yron, soft a whit
Ne all the playnts and prayers with which
Doe beat on th' andvyle of her stubberne wit:
But still, the more she fervent sees my fit,
The more she frieseth in her wilfull pryde;
And harder growes, the harder she is smit,
With all the playnts which to her be applyde.
What then remaines but I to ashes burne,
And she to stones at length all frosen turne?



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