Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EPISTLE TO THE LADY LUCY, COUNTESS OF BEDFORD, by SAMUEL DANIEL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Though virtue be the same when low she stands Last Line: By which, when all consumes, your fame shall live. Subject(s): Bedford, Lucy, Countess Of (1581-1627); Fame; Nature; Virtue; Women; Russell, Lucy, Countess Of Bedford; Reputation | ||||||||
Though virtue be the same when low she stands In th' humble shadows of obscurity As when she either sweats in martial bands Or sits in court, clad with authority, Yet, madam, doth the strictness of her room Greatly detract from her ability; For, as in-walled within a living tomb, Her hands and arms of action labor not; Her thoughts, as if abortive from the womb, Come never born, though happily begot. But where she hath, mounted in open sight, An eminent and spacious dwelling got, Where she may stir at will, and use her might, There is she more herself, and more her own; There in the fair attire of honor dight She sits at ease, and makes her glory known; Applause attends her hands, her deeds have grace; Her worth, new-born, is straight as if full grown. With such a goodly and respected face Doth virtue look, that's set to look from high, And such a fair advantage by her place Hath state and greatness to do worthily. And therefore well did your high fortunes meet With her, that gracing you, comes graced thereby; And well was let into a house so sweet, So good, so fair so fair, so good a guest, Who now remains as blessed in her seat As you are with her residency blessed. And this fair course of knowledge whereunto Your studies, learned lady, are addressed Is th' only certain way that you can go Unto true glory, to true happiness; All passages on earth besides are so Encumbered with such vain disturbances As still we lose our rest in seeking it, Being but deluded with appearances; And no key had you else that was so fit T' unlock that prison of your sex as this, To let you out of weakness, and admit Your powers into the freedom of that bliss That sets you there where you may oversee This rolling world, and view it as it is, And apprehend how th' outsides do agree With th' inward being of the things we deem And hold in our ill-cast accounts to be Of highest value and of best esteem; Since all the good we have rests in the mind, By whose proportions only we redeem Our thoughts from out confusion, and do find The measure of ourselves and of our powers; And that all happiness remains confined Within the kingdom of this breast of ours, Without whose bounds all that we look on lies In others' jurisdictions, others' powers, Out of the circuit of our liberties. All glory, honor, fame, applause, renown Are not belonging to our royalties, But t' others' wills, wherein they'are only grown; And that unless we find us all within, We never can without us be our own, Nor call it right our life that we live in, But a possession held for others' use, That seem to have most interest therein; Which we do so dissever, part, traduce, Let out to custom, fashion, and to show, As we enjoy but only the abuse And have no other deed at all to show. How oft are we constrained to appear With other countenance than that we owe, And be ourselves far off, when we are near! How oft are we forced on a cloudy heart To set a shining face and make it clear, Seeming content to put ourselves apart To bear a part of others' weaknesses! As if we only were composed by art, Not nature, and did all our deeds address T' opinion, not t' a conscience, what is right, As framed by'example, not advisedness, Into those forms that entertain our sight. And though books, madam, cannot make this mind Which we must bring apt to be set aright, Yet do they rectify it in that kind, And touch it so as that it turns that way Where judgment lies; and though we cannot find The certain place of truth, yet do they stay And entertain us near about the same, And give the soul the best delights that may Encheer it most, and most our spirits inflame To thoughts of glory, and to worthy ends. And therefore in a course that best became The clearness of your heart, and best commends Your worthy powers, you run the rightest way That is on earth that can true glory give, By which, when all consumes, your fame shall live. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THEM AND US by LUCILLE CLIFTON A MAN TO A WOMAN by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS DEATH AND FAME by ALLEN GINSBERG EARTH'S IMMORTALITIES: FAME by ROBERT BROWNING STANZAS WRITTEN ON THE ROAD BETWEEN FLORENCE AND PISA by GEORGE GORDON BYRON PROVIDE, PROVIDE by ROBERT FROST |
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