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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


VIRGIDEMIAE: BOOK 1: SATIRE 7 by JOSEPH HALL

First Line: GREAT IS THE FOLLY OF A FEEBLE BRAINE
Last Line: SURE WILL HE SAINT HER IN HIS CALENDERE.
Subject(s): LOVE; LUST; POETRY & POETS;

Great is the folly of a feeble braine,
Ore-ruld with loue, and tyrannous disdaine:
For loue, how-euer in the basest brest
It breeds high thoughts that feede the fancy best,
Yet is he blinde, and leades poore fooles awrie,
While they hang gazing on their mistres-eie.
The loue-sicke Poet, whose importune prayer
Repulsed is with resolute dispayre,
Hopeth to conquer his disdainfull dame,
With publique plaints of his conceiued flame.
Then poures he forth in patched @3Sonettings@1
His loue, his lust, and loathsome flatterings:
As tho the staring world hangd on his sleeue,
When once he smiles, to laugh: and when he sighs, to grieue.
Careth the world, thou loue, thou liue, or die?
Careth the world how fayre thy fayre one bee?
Fond wit-old, that would'st lode thy wit-lesse head
With timely hornes, before thy Bridall bed.
Then can he terme his durtie ill-fac'd bride
Lady and Queene, and virgin deifide:
Be shee all sootie-blacke, or bery-browne,
Shees white as morrows milk, or flaks new blowne.
And tho she be some dunghill drudge at home,
Yet can he her resigne some refuse roome
Amids the well-knowne stars: or if not there,
Sure will he Saint her in his Calendere.



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