Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A LADY: SHE REFUSING TO CONTINUE A DISPUTE WITH ME, by MATTHEW PRIOR Poet's Biography First Line: Spare, generous victor, spare the slave Last Line: He sent; and as he fled, he slew. Subject(s): Beauty; Hearts; Quarrels; Arguments; Disagreements | ||||||||
Spare, generous victor, spare the slave, Who did unequal war pursue; That more than triumph he might have, In being overcome by you. In the dispute, whate'er I said, My heart was by my tongue belied; And in my looks you might have read How much I argued on your side. You, far from danger as from fear, Might have sustain'd an open fight; For seldom your opinions err, Your eyes are always in the right. Why, fair one, would you not rely On reason's force with beauty's join'd? Could I their prevalence deny, I must at once be deaf and blind. Alas! not hoping to subdue, I only to the fight aspired: To keep the beauteous foe in view Was all the glory I desired. But she, howe'er of victory sure, Contemns the wreath too long delay'd: And arm'd with more immediate power, Calls cruel silence to her aid. Deeper to wound she shuns the fight; She drops her arms, to gain the field; Secures her conquest by her flight; And triumphs, when she seems to yield. So when the Parthian turn'd his steed, And from the hostile camp withdrew, With cruel skill the backward reed He sent; and, as he fled, he slew. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE QUARREL by KATHERINE MANSFIELD DOMESDAY BOOK: CHARLES WARREN, THE SHERIFF by EDGAR LEE MASTERS OUR PRINCIPAL by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE OWEN SEAMAN; ESTABLISHES ENTENE CORDIALE IN MANNER GUY WETMORE CARRYL by LOUIS UNTERMEYER AFTER THE QUARREL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE SOCIETY UPON THE STANISLAUS by FRANCIS BRET HARTE EARLY EVENING QUARREL by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES A BETTER ANSWER (TO CHLOE JEALOUS) by MATTHEW PRIOR A DUTCH PROVERB by MATTHEW PRIOR A LETTER TO LADY [MISS] MARGARET-CAVANDISH-HOLLES-HARLEY, WHEN A CHILD by MATTHEW PRIOR |
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