Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SYLVIA, A FRAGMENT, by ALEXANDER POPE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Sylvia my heart in wond'rous wise alarm'd Last Line: Is still a sad good christian at her heart. Subject(s): Women | ||||||||
Sylvia my Heart in wond'rous wise alarm'd, Aw'd without Sense, and without Beauty charm'd, But some odd Graces and fine Flights she had, Was just not ugly, and was just not mad; Her Tongue still run, on credit from her Eyes, More pert than witty, more a Wit than wise. Good Nature, she declar'd it, was her Scorn, Tho' 'twas by that alone she could be born. Affronting all, yet fond of a good Name, A Fool to Pleasure, yet a Slave to Fame; Now coy and studious in no Point to fall, Now all agog for D--y at a Ball: Now deep in Taylor and the Book of Martyrs, Now drinking Citron with his Gr-- and Ch-- Men, some to Business, some to Pleasure take, But ev'ry Woman's in her Soul a Rake. Frail, fev'rish Sex! their Fit now chills, now burns; Atheism and Superstition rule by Turns; And the meer Heathen in her carnal Part, Is still a sad good Christian at her Heart. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV A FAREWELL TO LONDON IN THE YEAR 1715 by ALEXANDER POPE |
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