1) The poem describes a maiden who is flawless and chosen to be the mother of God.
2) It then describes how Jesus came to his mother as quietly as dew falls in April.
3) The poem praises the maiden as being unlike any other, and worthy to be God's mother.
1) The poem describes a maiden who is flawless and chosen to be the mother of God.
2) It then describes how Jesus came to his mother as quietly as dew falls in April.
3) The poem praises the maiden as being unlike any other, and worthy to be God's mother.
1) The poem describes a maiden who is flawless and chosen to be the mother of God.
2) It then describes how Jesus came to his mother as quietly as dew falls in April.
3) The poem praises the maiden as being unlike any other, and worthy to be God's mother.
two ; I sing of a maiden And this, alas ! is more than we would do. That is makeles; King of all kings O stay, three lives in one flea spare, To her son she ches. Where we almost, yea, more than married are. This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is. He came al so still Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, There his mother was, And cloister'd in these living walls of jet. As dew in April Though use make you apt to kill me, That falleth on the grass. Let not to that self-murder added be, And sacrilege, three sins in killing three. He came al so still To his mother’s bour Cruel and sudden, hast thou since As dew in April Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? That falleth on the flour Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee? He came al so still Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou There his mother lay, Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now. As dew in April 'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ; That falleth on the spray. Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, Mother and maiden Will waste, as this flea's death took life from Was never none but she; thee. Well may such a lady Goddes mother be. *** The Rape of the Lock (Alexander *** Pope, 1712) Not with more glories, in th' ethereal plain, The sun first rises o'er the purpled main, Whoso List to hunt (Sir Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams Thomas Wyatt, early 16th c.) Launch'd on the bosom of the silver Thames. Fair nymphs, and well-dress'd youths around her Whoso list to hunt, I know where is an hind, shone, But as for me, alas, I may no more. But every eye was fix'd on her alone. The vain travail hath wearied me so sore, On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore, I am of them that farthest cometh behind. Which Jews might kiss, and infidels adore. Yet may I, by no means, my wearied mind Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose, Draw from the deer, but as she fleeth afore Quick as her eyes, and unfix'd as those: Fainting I follow. I leave off therefore, Favours to none, to all she smiles extends; Since in a net I seek to hold the wind. Oft she rejects, but never once offends. Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubt, Bright as the sun, her eyes the gazers strike, As well as I, may spend his time in vain. And, like the sun, they shine on all alike. And graven with diamonds in letters plain Yet graceful ease, and sweetness void of pride, There is written, her fair neck round about: Might hide her faults, if belles had faults to “Noli me tangere, for Caesar's I am, hide; And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.” If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you'll forget them all. The Flea This nymph, to the destruction of mankind, Nourish'd two locks, which graceful hung (John Donne, 1633) behind In equal curls, and well conspired to deck MARK but this flea, and mark in this, With shining ringlets the smooth iv'ry neck. How little that which thou deniest me is ; Love in these labyrinths his slaves detains, It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, And mighty hearts are held in slender chains. And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. With hairy springes we the birds betray, Thou know'st that this cannot be said Slight lines of hair surprise the finny prey, A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ; Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare, Yet this enjoys before it woo, And beauty draws us with a single hair.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Ultimate Collection: ALL 38 Plays & Complete Poetry: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, The Tempest, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, The Comedy of Errors…
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: All 214 Plays, Sonnets, Poems & Apocryphal Plays (Including the Biography of the Author): Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, The Tempest, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, The Comedy of Errors…