Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A RENUNCIATION, by EDWARD DE VERE Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: If women could be fair, and yet not fond Last Line: To play with fools, o, what a fool was I! Alternate Author Name(s): Bulbeck, Lord; Oxford, 17th Earl Of; Vere, Edward De Variant Title(s): Of Women Subject(s): Love - Complaints; Women | ||||||||
IF women could be fair, and yet not fond, Or that their love were firm, not fickle still, I would not marvel that they make men bond By service long to purchase their good-will; But when I see how frail those creatures are, I muse that men forget themselves so far. To mark the choice they make, and how they change, How oft from Phoebus they do flee to Pan; Unsettled still, like haggards wild they range, These gentle birds that fly from man to man; Who would not scorn and shake them from the fist, And let them fly, fair fools, which way they list? Yet for disport we fawn and flatter both, To pass the time when nothing else can please, And train them to our lure with subtle oath, Till, weary of their wiles, ourselves we ease; And then we say when we their fancy try, To play with fools, O, what a fool was I! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV A DOUBTFUL CHOICE by EDWARD DE VERE |
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