Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NEPTUNE'S TRIUMPH FOR THE RETURN OF ALBION, SELECTION, by BEN JONSON


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NEPTUNE'S TRIUMPH FOR THE RETURN OF ALBION, SELECTION, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Come, noble nymphs, and do not hide
Last Line: Do promise you will do it.


PROTEUS
Come, noble nymphs, and do not hide
The joys, for which you so provide:

SARON
If not to mingle with the men,
What do you here? Go home again.

PORTUNUS
Your dressings do confess
By what we see, so curious parts
Of Pallas' and Arachne's arts,
That you could mean no less.

PROTEUS
Why do you wear the silk-worm's toils,
Or glory in the shell-fish spoils,
Or strive to show the grains of ore
That you have gathered on the shore,
Whereof to make a stock
To graft the greener emerald on,
Or any better-watered stone?

SARON
Or ruby of the rock?

PROTEUS
Why do you smell of ambergris,
Of which was formed Neptune's niece,
The queen of love; unless you can,
Like sea-born Venus, love a man?

SARON
Try, put yourselves unto it.

CHORUS
Your looks, your smiles, and thoughts that meet,
Ambrosian hands and silver feet,
Do promise you will do it.





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