Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gravely to frown; to strut with solemn gait
Last Line: Beardless and penniless, returns to france.
Alternate Author Name(s): Du Bellay, Joachim


GRAVELY to frown: to strut with solemn gait:
With sad and serious smile each one to greet:
All words to weigh and careful answers mete,
As 'Messer, si,' or 'Messer, no,' sedate:

Oft times an 'e cosi' t'interpolate,
And with 'your servant' candour counterfeit,
And (as if sharing the victorious feat)
Of Florence and of Naples news relate:

Call each man 'Signor,' haste your hand to kiss,
And, as the Roman courtier's custom is,
Hide poverty, and seeming wealth advance:

Such in this Court are all the virtues had,
Whence, often sick, ill-mounted and ill-clad,
Beardless and penniless, returns to France.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net