|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ON THE PICTURE OF LUCRETIA STABBING HERSELF, by PHILIP AYRES Poet's Biography First Line: Lucrece inflam'd with anger, grief and shame Last Line: They made me slave, but thus myself I free. Subject(s): Freedom; Suicide; Liberty | |||
LUCRECE inflam'd with anger, grief and shame, Despising life, yet careful of her fame, Wounds her fair breast, tho' arm'd with Innocence Could suffer Death, but could not the offence. Her steel was sharp, her end with glory crown'd, She sought revenge, and valu'd not the wound; This so appeas'd her rage, that being dead, She look'd like one reveng'd, not injured. 'Twas Beauty sinn'd, said she, then let it die, That forc'd me to this last extremity; Were't not for Beauty I had guiltless been For it was that made lustful Tarquin sin. So I to violence a prey was made, No tears avail'd when virtue was betray'd. Haughty he was, my Beauty proud as he, They made me slave, but thus myself I free. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOVE THE WILD SWAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS AFTER TENNYSON by AMBROSE BIERCE QUARTET IN F MAJOR by WILLIAM MEREDITH CROSS THAT LINE by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE EMANCIPATION by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER ON A FAIR BEGGAR by PHILIP AYRES |
| |