MORE deep than darts from Turkish strings Love's wanton archery doth hurt To rustic lads and royal kings. For such a sloth of limbs inert God had left David's body rent Who ever held his loins girt. Like Solomon grown indolent Who erst a prophet greatly wise Was at the last of glory shent. Sly mouth and visage, with soft eyes That hide fine snares of shamefulness And a foul grave whence none arise: Ev'n Agamemnon knew such stress; When Menelaus wild Helen saw Likewise did he grow comfortless. Polyxen did Achilles awe; For Omphale did Hercules The soft wool round the distaff draw. So Delecus for Stratonice Became a slave; of Cressid fond Did Troilus forget all ease. Unto a swarthy visage bond Brave Antony his blade let rust And heard no more the trumpet sound. Prudent in all save his own lust, Aurelius for his Faustine fair Did trail his laurels in the dust. So am I held by her whose hair Is fairer than is gold spun fine. (Alas! the hard heart she doth bear), So hapless is this love of mine, No more can my weak breath be blown To swell with song the reed divine Once filled all France with my renown. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GHOST OF DEACON BROWN by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE METROPOLITAN TOWER by SARA TEASDALE VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 7. ROME by SARA TEASDALE THE EXPOSED NEST by ROBERT FROST INSCRIPTION FOR A FOUNTAIN ON A HEATH by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE |