Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE RETURN by THOMAS STANLEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: BEAUTY, WHOSE SOFT MAGNETIC CHAINS
Last Line: APPROACHED SEEMED COLD, AT DISTANCE WARM.
BEAUTY, whose soft magnetic chains
@3Beauty, thy harsh imperious chains@1
Nor time nor absence can untie,
@3As a scorned weight I here untie,@1
Thy power the narrow bounds disdains
@3Since thy proud empire those disdains@1
Of Nature or philosophy,
@3Of reason or philosophy,@1
That canst by unconfined laws
@3That wouldst within tyrannic laws@1
A motion, though at distance, cause.
@3Confine the power of each free cause.@1

Drawn by the sacred influence
@3Forced by the potent influence@1
Of thy bright eyes, I back return;
@3Of thy disdain I back return,@1
And since I nowhere can dispense
@3Thus with those flames I do dispense,@1
With flames that do in absence burn,
@3Which, though they would not light, did burn;@1
I rather choose 'midst them t' expire
@3And rather will through cold expire@1
Than languish by a hidden fire.
@3Than languish at a frozen fire.@1

But if thou the insulting pride
@3But whilst I the insulting pride@1
Of vulgar Beauties dost despise,
@3Of thy vain beauty do despise,@1
Who by vain triumphs deified,
@3Who gladly wouldst be deified,@1
Their votaries do sacrifice,
@3By making me thy sacrifice;@1
Then let those flames, whose magic charm
@3May love thy heart, which to his charm@1
At distance scorch'd, approach'd but warm.
@3Approached seemed cold, at distance warm.@1



Home: PoetryExplorer.net