Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FABLES: 1ST SER. 45. THE POET AND THE ROSE, by JOHN GAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I hate the man who builds his name Last Line: To wither, envy, pine and fade? Subject(s): Fame; Flowers; Poetry & Poets; Roses; Reputation | ||||||||
I HATE the man who builds his name On ruins of another's fame. Thus prudes by characters o'erthrown Imagine that they raise their own; Thus scriblers, covetous of praise, Think slander can transplant the bays. Beauties and bards have equal pride, With both all rivals are decry'd. Who praises Lesbia's eyes and feature, Must call her sister, aukward creature; For the kind flatt'ry's sure to charm, When we some other nymph disarm. As in the cool of early day A Poet sought the sweets of May, The garden's fragrant breath ascends, And ev'ry stalk with odour bends. A rose he pluck'd, he gaz'd, admir'd, Thus singing as the Muse inspir'd. Go, Rose, my Chloe's bosom grace; How happy should I prove, Might I supply that envy'd place With never-fading love! There, Phenix-like, beneath her eye, Involv'd in fragrance, burn and die! Know, hapless flower, that thou shalt find More fragrant roses there; I see thy with'ring head reclin'd With envy and despair! One common fate we both must prove; You die with envy, I with love. Spare your comparisons, reply'd An angry Rose, who grew beside; Of all mankind you should not flout us; What can a Poet do without us! In ev'ry love-song roses bloom; We lend you colour and perfume. Does it to Chloe's charms conduce, To found her praise on our abuse? Must we, to flatter her, be made To wither, envy, pine and fade? | 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 FABLES: 1ST SER. 5. THE WILD BOAR AND THE RAM by JOHN GAY LESSER EPISTLES: TO A LADY ON HER PASSION FOR OLD CHINA by JOHN GAY |
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