Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PLATONIC [OR, PLATONICK] LOVE (3), by EDWARD HERBERT Poet's Biography First Line: Madam, your beauty and your lovely parts Last Line: Will turn, and circle, with their rays, your face. Alternate Author Name(s): Cherbury, 1st Baron Herbert Of; Herbert Of Cherbury, Edward Herbert, 1st Baron; Herbert Of Cherbury, Lord Subject(s): Love - Nature Of | ||||||||
MADAM, your beauty and your lovely parts Would scarce admit poetic praise and arts As they are love's most sharp and piercing darts; Though, as again they only wound and kill The more deprav'd affections of our will, You claim a right to commendation still. For as you can unto that height refine All love's delights, as while they do incline Unto no vice they so become divine, We may as well attain your excellence, As without help of any outward sense Would make us grow a pure intelligence. And as a soul, thus being quite abstract, Complies not properly with any act Which from its better being may detract, So through the virtuous habits you infuse, It is enough that we may like and choose, Without presuming yet to take or use. Thus angels in their starry orbs proceed Unto affection, without other need Than that they still on contemplation feed; Though, as they may unto this orb descend, You can, when you would so much lower bend, Give joys beyond what man can comprehend. Do not refuse then, madam, to appear, Since every radiant beam comes from your sphere Can so much more than any else endear, As while through them we do discern each grace, The multiplied lights from every place Will turn, and circle, with their rays, your face. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RESCUE THE DEAD by DAVID IGNATOW BUTTERFLIES UNDER PERSIMMON by MARK JARMAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 27 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 28 by JAMES JOYCE CHAMBER MUSIC: 30 by JAMES JOYCE HE WHO KNOWS LOVE by ELSA BARKER LOVE'S HUMBLENESS by ELSA BARKER SONG (IN THE LUCKY CHANCE) by APHRA BEHN AN ODE UPON A QUESTION WHETHER LOVE SHOULD CONTINUE FOREVER by EDWARD HERBERT DITTY IN IMITATION OF THE SPANISH: ENTRE TANTO QUE L'AVRIL by EDWARD HERBERT EPITAPH FOR SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, AT ST. PAUL'S WITHOUT A MONUMENT ... by EDWARD HERBERT |
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