Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHAMELEON, by MATTHEW PRIOR Poet's Biography First Line: As the chameleon, who is known Last Line: And lies with those he never saw. Subject(s): Chameleons; Colors; Europe; Law & Lawyers; Wisdom | ||||||||
As the chameleon, who is known To have no colours of his own; But borrows from his neighbour's hue His white or black, his green or blue; And struts as much in ready light, Which credit gives him upon sight As if the rainbow were in tail Settled on him, and his heirs male: So the young Squire, when first he comes From country school to Will's or Tom's; And equally, in truth, is fit To b a statesman, or a wit; Without one notion of his own, He saunters wildly up and down; Till some acquaintance, good or bad, Takes notice of a staring lad; Admits him in among the gang: They jest, reply, dispute, harangue; He acts and talks, as they befriend him, Smeared with the colours which they lend him. Thus merely, as his fortune chances, His merit, or his vice advances. If haply he the sect pursues, That read and comment upon news, He takes up their mysterious face: He drinks his coffee without lace. This week his mimic tongue runs o'er What they have said the week before. His wisdom sets all Europe right; And teachers Marlborough when to fight. Or if it be his fate to meet With folks who have more wealth than wit, He loves cheap port, and double bub; And settles in the Hum-Drum Club. He learns how stocks will fall or rise; Holds poverty the greatest vice; Thinks wit the bane of conversation; And says, that learning spoils a nation. But if, at first, he minds his hits, And drinks champagne among the wits, Five deep, he toasts the tow'ring lasses; Repeats you verses wrote on glasses; Is in the chair; prescribes the law; And lies with those he never saw. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOPE IS NOT FOR THE WISE by ROBINSON JEFFERS SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 5 by CONRAD AIKEN SONG: NOW THAT SHE IS HERE; FOR JOE-ANNE by HAYDEN CARRUTH WISE: HAVING THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE AND ADOPT THE BEST by LUCILLE CLIFTON WISDOM COMETH WITH THE YEARS by COUNTEE CULLEN FOR RANDALL JARRELL, 1914-1965 by NORMAN DUBIE THE MORTAL WORDS OF ZWEIK by PHILIP LEVINE A BETTER ANSWER (TO CHLOE JEALOUS) by MATTHEW PRIOR A DUTCH PROVERB by MATTHEW PRIOR A LETTER TO LADY [MISS] MARGARET-CAVANDISH-HOLLES-HARLEY, WHEN A CHILD by MATTHEW PRIOR |
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