Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE NOBLE LADY, THE LADY I.S. OF WORLDLY CROSSES, by MICHAEL DRAYTON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Madame, to shew the smoothnesse of my vaine Last Line: Be ever good, that I may love you ever. | ||||||||
Madame, to shew the smoothnesse of my vaine, Neither that I would have you entertaine The time in reading me, which you would spend In faire discourse with some knowne honest friend, I write not to you. Nay, and which is more, My powerfull verses strive not to restore What time and sicknesse have in you impair'd; To other ends my Elegie is squar'd. Your beauty, sweetnesse, and your gracefull parts That have drawne many eyes, wonne many hearts, Of me get little. I am so much man, That let them doe their utmost that they can, I will resist their forces: and they be Though great to others, yet not so to me. The first time I beheld you, I then sawe That (in it selfe) which had the power to drawe My stay'd affection, and thought to allowe You some deale of my heart; but you have now Got farre into it, and you have the skill (For ought I see) to winne upon me still. When I doe thinke how bravely you have borne Your many crosses, as in Fortunes scorne, And how neglectfull you have seem'd to be, Of that which hath seem'd terrible to me, I thought you stupid, nor that you had felt Those griefes which (often) I have seene to melt Another woman into sighes and teares, A thing but seldome in your sexe and yeares; But when in you I have perceiv'd agen, (Noted by me, more then by other men) How feeling and how sensible you are Of your friends sorrowes, and with how much care You seeke to cure them, then my selfe I blame, That I your patience should so much misname, Which to my understanding maketh knowne "Who feeles anothers griefe, can feele their owne. When straight me thinkes, I heare your patience say, Are you the man that studied Seneca: Plinies most learned letters; and must I Read you a Lecture in Philosophie, T'avoid the afflictions that have us'd to reach you; I'le learne you more, Sir, then you bookes can teach you. Of all your sex, yet never did I knowe Any that yet so actually could showe Such rules for patience, such an easie way, That who so sees it shall be forc'd to say, Loe what before seem'd hard to be discern'd, Is of this Lady, in an instant learn'd. It is heavens will that you should wronged be By the malicious, that the world might see Your Dove-like meekenesse; for had the base scumme, The spawne of Fiends, beene in your slander dumbe, Your vertue then had perish'd, never priz'd, For that the same you had not exercis'd; And you had lost the Crowne you have, and glory, Nor had you beene the subject of my Story. Whilst they feele Hell, being damned in their hate, Their thoughts, like Devils them excruciate, Which by your noble suffrings doe torment Them with new paines, and gives you this content To see your soule an Innocent, hath suffred, And up to heaven before your eyes be offred: Your like we in a burning Glasse may see, When the Sunnes rayes therein contracted be Bent on some object, which is purely white, We finde that colour doth dispierce the light, And stands untainted: but if it hath got Some little sully; or the least small spot, Then it soone fiers it; so you still remaine Free, because in you they can finde no staine. God doth not love them least, on whom he layes The great'st afflictions; but that he will praise Himselfe most in them, and will make them fit, Near'st to himselfe who is the Lambe to sit: For by that touch, like perfect gold he tries them, Who are not his, until the world denies them. And your example may worke such effect, That it may be the beginning of a Sect Of patient women; and that many a day All Husbands may for you their Founder pray. Nor is to me your Innocence the lesse, In that I see you strive not to suppresse Their barbarous malice; but your noble heart Prepar'd to act so difficult a part, With unremoved constancie is still The same it was, that of your proper ill, The effect proceeds from your owne selfe the cause, Like some just Prince, who to establish lawes, Suffers the breach at his best lov'd to strike, To learne the vulgar to endure the like. You are a Martir thus, nor can you be Lesse to the world so valued by me: If as you have begun, you still persever, Be ever good, that I may love you ever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IDEA: 14. TO TIME by MICHAEL DRAYTON IDEA: TO THE READER OF THESE SONNETS, INTRODUCTION by MICHAEL DRAYTON TO THE VIRGINIAN VOYAGE [1611] by MICHAEL DRAYTON A HYMNE TO HIS LADIES BIRTH-PLACE by MICHAEL DRAYTON A SKELTONIAD by MICHAEL DRAYTON AN AMOURET ANACREONTICK by MICHAEL DRAYTON AN ELEGIE UPON THE DEATH OF THE LADY PENELOPE CLIFTON by MICHAEL DRAYTON |
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