Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ELEGY: 14. A TALE OF A CITIZEN AND HIS WIFE, by JOHN DONNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I sing no harme good sooth to any wight Last Line: But his kinde wife gave me the very signe. | ||||||||
I sing no harme good sooth to any wight, To Lord or foole, Cuckold, begger or knight, To peace-teaching Lawyer, Proctor, or brave Reformed or reduced Captaine, Knave, Officer, Jugler, or Justice of peace, Juror or Judge; I touch no fat sowes grease, I am no Libeller, nor will be any, But (like a true man) say there are too many. I feare not ore tenus; for my tale, Nor Count nor Counsellour will redd or pale. A Citizen and his wife the other day Both riding on one horse, upon the way I overtooke, the wench a pretty peate, And (by her eye) well fitting for the feate. I saw the lecherous Citizen turne backe His head, and on his wifes lip steale a smacke, Whence apprehending that the man was kinde, Riding before, to kisse his wife behinde, To get acquaintance with him I began To sort discourse fit for so fine a man: I ask'd the number of the Plaguy Bill, Ask'd if the Custome Farmers held out still, Of the Virginian plot, and whether Ward The traffique of the I Whether the Brittaine Burse did fill apace, And likely were to give th'Exchange disgrace; Of new-built Algate, and the More-field crosses, Of store of Bankerouts, and poore Merchants losses I urged him to speake; But he (as mute As an old Courtier worne to his last suite) Replies with onely yeas and nayes; At last (To fit his element) my theame I cast On Tradesmens gaines; that set his tongue agoing: Alas, good sir (quoth he) There is no doing In Court nor City now; she smil'd and I, And (in my conscience) both gave him the lie In one met thought: but he went on apace, And at the present time with such a face He rail'd, as fray'd me; for he gave no praise, To any but my Lord of Essex dayes; Call'd those the age of action; true (quoth Hee) There's now as great an itch of bravery, And heat of taking up, but cold lay downe, For, put to push of pay, away they runne; Our onely City trades of hope now are Bawd, Tavern-keeper, Whore and Scrivener; The much of Privileg'd kingsmen, and the store Of fresh protections make the rest all poore; In the first state of their Creation, Though many stoutly stand, yet proves not one A righteous pay-master. Thus ranne he on In a continued rage: so void of reason Seem'd his harsh talke, I sweat for feare of treason. And (troth) how could I lesse? when in the prayer For the protection of the wise Lord Major, And his wise brethrens worships, when one prayeth, He swore that none could say Amen with faith. To get him off from what I glowed to heare, (In happy time) an Angel did appeare, The bright Signe of a lov'd and wel-try'd Inne, Where many Citizens with their wives have bin Well us'd and often; here I pray'd him stay, To take some due refreshment by the way. Looke how hee look'd that hid the gold (his hope) And at's returne found nothing but a Rope, So he on me, refus'd and made away, Though willing she pleaded a weary day: I found my misse, struck hands, and praid him tell (To hold acquaintance still) where he did dwell; He barely nam'd the street, promis'd the Wine, But his kinde wife gave me the very Signe. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A HYMN TO CHRIST, AT THE AUTHOR'S LAST GOING INTO GERMANY by JOHN DONNE A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER by JOHN DONNE A LECTURE UPON THE SHADOW by JOHN DONNE A NOCTURNAL UPON ST. LUCY'S DAY, BEING THE SHORTEST DAY by JOHN DONNE A VALEDICTION: FORBIDDING MOURNING by JOHN DONNE A VALEDICTION: OF MY NAME IN THE WINDOW by JOHN DONNE A VALEDICTION: OF THE BOOKE by JOHN DONNE A VALEDICTION: OF WEEPING by JOHN DONNE AN ANATOMY OF THE WORLD: THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY by JOHN DONNE ELEGY: 11. THE BRACELET; UPON THE LOSS OF HIS MISTRESS'S CHAIN by JOHN DONNE |
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