Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, POETASTER: SONG (4), by BEN JONSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

POETASTER: SONG (4), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: If I freely may discover
Last Line: Neither her peevishness annoy me.
Subject(s): Martial (40-104)


IF I freely may discover
What would please me in my lover,
I would have her fair and witty,
Savouring more of court than city;
A little proud, but full of pity:
Light and humorous in her toying;
Oft building hopes, and soon destroying;
Long, but sweet, in the enjoying;
Neither too easy, nor too hard:
All extremes I would have barred.

She should be allowed her passions,
So they were but used as fashions;
Sometimes froward, and then frowning,
Sometimes sickish and then swooning,
Every fit with change still crowning,
Purely jealous I would have her,
Then only constant when I crave her:
'Tis a virtue should not save her.
Thus, nor her delicates would cloy me,
Neither her peevishness annoy me.





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