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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONG, by RICHARD LOVELACE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: Strive not, vain lover, to be fine
Last Line: Dotes on a gilded statue, and no more.
First Line: Strive not, vain lover, to be fine
Last Line: Dotes on a gilded statue, and no more.
STRIVE not, vain lover, to be fine,
Thy silk 's the silkworm's, and not thine;
You lessen to a fly your mistress' thought,
To think it may be in a cobweb caught.
What though her thin transparent lawn
Thy heart in a strong net hath drawn:
Not all the arms the God of Fire e'er made
Can the soft bulwarks of nak'd Love invade.
Be truly fine, then, and yourself dress
In her fair soul's immac'late glass:
Then by reflection you may have the bliss
Perhaps to see what a true fineness is,
When all your gawderies will fit
Those only that are poor in wit:
She that a clinquant outside doth adore,
Dotes on a gilded statue, and no more.
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Other Poems of Interest...
LA BELLA BONA ROBA by RICHARD LOVELACE
THE GRASSHOPPER; TO MY NOBLE FRIEND MR. CHARLES COTTON by RICHARD LOVELACE
THE SCRUTINY; SONG by RICHARD LOVELACE
TO ALTHEA, FROM PRISON by RICHARD LOVELACE
TO AMARANTHA, THAT SHE WOULD DISHEVEL HER HAIR by RICHARD LOVELACE
TO LUCASTA, [ON] GOING BEYOND THE SEAS by RICHARD LOVELACE
TO LUCASTA, [ON] GOING TO THE WARS by RICHARD LOVELACE
A BLACK PATCH ON LUCASTA'S FACE (1) by RICHARD LOVELACE
A BLACK PATCH ON LUCASTA'S FACE (2) by RICHARD LOVELACE