Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OBSERVATIONS IN THE ART OF ENGLISH POESY: 12. TROCHAIC VERSE: THE EIGHTH EPIGRAM, by THOMAS CAMPION


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OBSERVATIONS IN THE ART OF ENGLISH POESY: 12. TROCHAIC VERSE: THE EIGHTH EPIGRAM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Barnzy stiffly vows that he's no cuckold
Last Line: Harvy bears the wrong, he proves the cuckold.
Subject(s): Barnes, Barnabe (1569-1609); Harvey, Gabriel (1545-1630)


Barnzy stiffly vows that he's no cuckold,
Yet the vulgar everywhere salutes him
With strange signs of horns, from ev'ry corner;
Wheresoe'er he comes a sundry cuckoo
Still frequents his ears, yet he's no cuckold.
But this Barnzy knows that his Matilda
Scorning him with Harvy plays the wanton;
Knows it? nay desires it, and by prayers
Daily begs of heav'n, that it for ever
May stand firm for him, yet he's no cuckold:
And 'tis true, for Harvy keeps Matilda,
Fosters Barnzy, and relieves his household,
Buys the cradle, and begets the children,
Pays the nurses, ev'ry charge defraying,
And thus truly plays Matilda's husband:
So that Barnzy now becomes a cipher
And himself th' adult'rer of Matilda.
Mock not him with horns, the case is altered;
Harvy bears the wrong, he proves the cuckold.





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