Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THAT A PLEASANT POVERTY IS TO BE PREFERRED BEFORE .. RICHES, by ABRAHAM COWLEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THAT A PLEASANT POVERTY IS TO BE PREFERRED BEFORE .. RICHES, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Why o doth gaudy tagus ravish thee
Last Line: Make both my monument and elegie.


1.

WHy o doth gaudy Tagus ravish thee,
Though Neptune's treasure-house it bee?
Why doth Pactolus thee bewitch,
Infected yet with Midas' glorious Itch?

2.

Their dull and sleepy streames are not at all
Like other Flouds, Poeticall;
They have no dance, noe wanton sport,
No gentle murmur, the lov'd shore to court.

3.

No fish inhabite the adulterate floud,
Nor can it feede the neighboring wood;
No flower or herbe is neere it found,
But a perpetuall winter sterves the ground.

4.

Give me a river which doth scorne to shew
An added beauty; whose cleere brow
May bee my looking-glasse, to see
What my face is, and what my mind should bee.

5.

Here waves call waves, and glide along in ranke,
And prattle to the smiling banke.
Here sad Kingfishers tell thy tales,
And fish enrich the Brooke with silver scales.

6.

Dasyes the first borne of the teeming Spring,
On each side their embrodery bring;
Here Lillies wash, and grow more white,
And Daffadills to see themselves delight.

7.

Here a fresh arbor gives her amorous shade,
Which Nature, the best Gard'ner made.
Here I would set, and sing rude layes,
Such as the Nimphes and me my selfe should please.

8.

Thus I would wast, thus end my carelesse dayes,
And Robin-red-brests whom men prayse
For pious birds, should when I dye,
Make both my monument and Elegie.





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