Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEFENCE, by HENRY KING (1592-1669) Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Why slightest thou what I approve? Last Line: To love by judgement, not by sense. Subject(s): Love; Virtue | ||||||||
Why slightest thou what I approve? Thou art no Peer to try my love, Nor canst discern where her form lies, Unless thou saw'st her with my eyes. Say she were foul and blacker than The Night, or sunburnt African, If lik'd by me, 'tis I alone Can make a beauty where was none; For rated in my fancy, she is so as she appears to me. But 'tis not feature, or a face, That does my free election grace, Nor is my liking only led By a well-temper'd white and red; Could I enamour'd grow on those, The Lily and the blushing Rose United in one stalk might be As dear unto my thoughts as she. But I look farther, and do find A richer beauty in her mind; Where something is so lasting fair, As time or age cannot impair. Hadst thou a perspective so clear, Thou couldst behold my object there; When thou her virtues shouldst espy, They'd force thee to confess that I Had cause to like her, and learn thence To love by judgement, not by sense. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY GOOD FATHER by CAROLYN KIZER ARCADY TOMBEAU by DONALD REVELL LIFE'S MIRROR by MARY AINGE DE VERE IDEA: TO THE READER OF THESE SONNETS, INTRODUCTION by MICHAEL DRAYTON VIRTUE [OR, VERTUE] by GEORGE HERBERT A CONTEMPLATION UPON FLOWERS by HENRY KING (1592-1669) |
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