Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BEAUTY, by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEAUTY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Beauty, thou wild fantastick ape
Last Line: Wouldst damn me.
Subject(s): Beauty


1.

BEauty, thou wilde fantastick Ape,
Who dost in every Country change thy shape!
Here black, there brown, here tawny, and there white;
Thou Flatt'rer which complyest with ev'ry sight!
Thou Babel, which confounds the Eye
With unintelligible variety!
Who hast no certain when, nor where,
But vary'st still, and dost thy selfe declare
Inconstant, as thy she-Professours are.

2.

Beauty, Love's Scene and Maskerade,
So gay by well-plac'd Lights, and Distance made!
False coyn, with which th' Imposture cheats us still;
The stamp and Colour good, but Mettall ill!
Which Light or Base we find, when we
Weigh by enjoyment, and examine Thee!
For though thy Being be but show,
'Tis chiefly Night which men to Thee allow:
And chuse t' enjoy Thee, when Thou least art Thou.

3.

Beauty, Thou Active, Passive Ill!
Which dy'st thy selfe as fast as thou dost kill!
Thou Tulip, who thy stock in paint dost wast,
Neither for Physick good, nor Smell, nor Tast.
Beauty, whose Flames but Meteors are,
Short-liv'd and low, tho' thou would'st seem a Starre,
Who dar'st not thine own Home descry,
Pretending to dwell richly in the Eye,
When thou, alas, dost in the Fancy lye.

4.

Beauty, whose Conquests still are made
O're Hearts by Cowards kept, or else betraid!
Weak Victor! who thy selfe destroy'd must be
When sicknesse storms, or Time besieges Thee!
Thou' unwholesome Thaw to frozen Age!
Thou strong Wine, which youth's Feaver dost enrage,
Thou Tyrant which leav'st no man free!
Thou subtle thief, from whom nought safe can be!
Thou Murth'rer which hast kill'd, and Devill which
wouldst Damn me.





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