Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A VAIN LADY, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Ah, heedless girl! Why thus disclose Last Line: I pity, but I cannot love. Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron Subject(s): Houson, Anne; Vanity | ||||||||
AH, heedless girl! why thus disclose What ne'er was meant for other ears? Why thus destroy thine own repose And dig the source of future tears? Oh, thou wilt weep, imprudent maid, While lurking envious foes will smile, For all the follies thou hast said Of those who spoke but to beguile. Vain girl! thy ling'ring woes are nigh, If thou believ'st what striplings say: Oh, from the deep temptation fly, Nor fall the specious spoiler's prey. Dost thou repeat, in childish boast, The words man utters to deceive? Thy peace, thy hope, thy all is lost, If thou canst venture to believe. While now amongst thy female peers Thou tell'st again the soothing tale, Canst thou not mark the rising sneers Duplicity in vain would veil? These tales in secret silence hush, Nor make thyself the public gaze: What modest maid without a blush Recounts a flattering coxcomb's praise? Will not the laughing boy despise Her who relates each fond conceit -- Who, thinking Heaven is in her eyes, Yet cannot see the slight deceit? For she who takes a soft delight These amorous nothings in revealing, Must credit all we say or write, While vanity prevents concealing. Cease, if you prize your beauty's reign! No jealousy bids me reprove: One, who is thus from nature vain, I pity, but I cannot love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THROUGH A GLASS EYE, LIGHTLY by CAROLYN KIZER EPITAPH: FOR A PREACHER by COUNTEE CULLEN THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT by ANNE BRADSTREET THE TENTH MUSE: THE VANITY OF ALL WORLDLY THINGS by ANNE BRADSTREET THE BISHOP ORDERS HIS TOMB AT SAINT PRAXED'S CHURCH by ROBERT BROWNING ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON AGING: ON THE VANITY OF EARTHLY GREATNESS by ARTHUR GUITERMAN THE SPIDER AND THE FLY by MARY HOWITT ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER' by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |
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