Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE WILD GALLANT, REVIVED: PROLOGUE, by JOHN DRYDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: As some raw squire, by tender mother bred Last Line: For ought I know, he may turn taile for ever. Subject(s): Life; Love; Sin | ||||||||
As some raw Squire, by tender Mother bred, Till one and Twenty keeps his Maidenhead; (Pleas'd with some Sport, which he alone does find, And thinks a Secret to all Humane kind,) Till mightily in Love, yet half afraid, He first attempts the gentle Dairymaid: Succeeding there, and, led by the renown Of Whetstones Park, he comes at length to Town: Where enter'd by some School-fellow or Friend, He grows to break Glass-Windows in the end: His Valour too, which with the Watch began, Proceeds to duell, and he kills his Man. By such Degrees, while Knowledge he did want, Our unfletch'd Author writ a Wild Gallant. He thought him monstrous leud (I'll lay my Life) Because suspected with his Landlords Wife; But, since his Knowledge of the Town began, He thinks him now a very civil Man; And, much asham'd of what he was before, Has fairly play'd him at three Wenches more. 'Tis some amends his Frailties to confess; Pray pardon him his want of Wickedness. He's towardly, and will come on apace; His frank Confession shows he has some Grace. You balk'd him when he was a young Beginner, And almost spoyl'd a very hopeful Sinner; But if once more you slight his weak indeavour, For ought I know, he may turn taile for ever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEVEN STREAMS OF NEVIS by GALWAY KINNELL CHANEL NO. 5 by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR BROTHERS: 4. IN MY OWN DEFENSE by LUCILLE CLIFTON THE RING AND THE CASTLE by AMY LOWELL APPELLATE JURISDICTION by MARIANNE MOORE A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY by JOHN DRYDEN A SONG TO A FAIR YOUNG LADY GOING OUT OF TOWN IN THE SPRING by JOHN DRYDEN |
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