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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CAELICA: 59 by FULKE GREVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHOEVER SAILS NEAR TO BERMUDA COAST
Last Line: MUST JOY TO SUFFER ALL THE WOES OF LOVE.

Whoever sails near to Bermuda coast
Goes hard aboard the monarchy of fear
Where all desires, but life's desire, are lost,
For wealth and fame put off their glories there.

Yet this isle, poison-like, by mischief known,
Weans not desire from her sweet nurse, the sea,
But unseen shows us where our hopes be sown,
With woeful signs declaring joyful way.
For who will seek the wealth of western sun
Oft by Bermuda's miseries must run.

Who seeks the god of love in beauty's sky
Must pass the empire of confused passion
Where our desires to all but horrors die
Before that joy and peace can take their fashion.

Yet this fair heaven that yields this soul-despair
Weans not the heart from his sweet god, affection,
But rather shows us what sweet joys are there
Where constancy is servant to perfection.
Who Caelica's chaste heart then seeks to move
Must joy to suffer all the woes of love.



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