Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FOUR SONGS BY WAY OF CHORUS TO A PLAY: 2. FEMININE HONOURS, by THOMAS CAREW


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FOUR SONGS BY WAY OF CHORUS TO A PLAY: 2. FEMININE HONOURS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: In what esteem did the gods hold
Last Line: Than her false echo in the ear.
Subject(s): Women


IN what esteem did the gods hold
Fair Innocence and the chaste bed,
When scandall'd Virtue might be bold
Bare-foot upon sharp coulters, spread
O'er burning coals, to march; yet feel
Nor scorching fire nor piercing steel!

Why, when the hard-edg'd iron did turn
Soft as a bed of roses blown,
When cruel flames forgot to burn
Their chaste pure limbs, should man alone
'Gainst female innocence conspire,
Harder than steel, fiercer than fire?

Oh, hapless sex! Unequal sway
Of partial honour! Who may know
Rebels from subjects that obey,
When malice can on vestals throw
Disgrace, and fame fix high repute
On the close shameless prostitute?

Vain Honour! thou art but disguise,
A cheating voice, a juggling art;
No judge of Virtue, whose pure eyes
Court her own image in the heart,
More pleas'd with her true figure there
Than her false echo in the ear.





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