Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VIRELIA, by JEAN FROISSART


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VIRELIA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Or take the black or take the white
Last Line: Shall failure all your hopes requite.
Alternate Author Name(s): Froissart, Jehan


OR take the black or take the white,
Or take what gives you most delight;
Take all the colours as you may--
But still I say
That now, or else another day,
Shall failure all your hopes requite.

For me I say with certain truth,
I formed great projects in my youth,
Unfearingly.
That I repent my fond mistake,
And all atonement wish to make
Unsparingly.

Vain Hope! it is a little thing,
Yet able mighty change to bring,
For it can make the coward bold.
The rash can make
Whatever form his folly take,
By wisdom's steady laws to hold.

Now would I live in mirth and joy,
Happy to be without alloy,
And this the way.
I ne'er will spend, or fear, or sorrow
Upon the present or the morrow;
But hap what may,
With careless heart the chance receive--
Who weeps at morn may laugh at eve.

So take the black or take the white,
Or take what gives you most delight;
Take all the colours as you may--
But still I say
That now, or else another day,
Shall failure all your hopes requite.





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