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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO A CHILD OF QUALITY, FIVE YEARS OLD. THE AUTHOR THAN FORTY, by MATTHEW PRIOR Poet's Biography First Line: Lords, knights, and squires, the num'rous band Last Line: When she begins to comprehend it. Subject(s): Knights & Knighthood; Letters; Writing & Writers | |||
Lords, knights, and squires, the num'rous band, That wear the fair Miss Mary's fetters, Were summon'd by her high command, To show their passions by their letters. My pen amongst the rest I took, Lest those bright eyes that cannot read Should dart their kindling fires, and look The pow'r they have to be obey'd. Nor quality, nor reputation, Forbid me yet my flame to tell, Dear Five-years-old befriends my passion, And I may write till she can spell. For while she makes her silk-worms beds With all the tender things I swear; Whilst all the house my passion reads, In papers round her baby's hair; She may receive and own my flame, For though the strictest prudes should know it, She'll pass for a most virtuous dame, And I for an unhappy poet. Then too, alas! when she shall tear The lines some younger rival sends; She'll give me leave to write, I fear, And we shall still continue friends. For as our different ages move, 'Tis so ordain'd (would Fate but mend it) That I shall be past making love, When she begins to comprehend it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CELL, SELECTION by LYN HEJINIAN OXOTA: A SHORT RUSSIAN NOVEL: CHAPTER 126: THE DOUBTING MAN by LYN HEJINIAN WAKING THE MORNING DREAMLESS AFTER LONG SLEEP by JANE HIRSHFIELD COMPULSIVE QUALIFICATIONS by RICHARD HOWARD DEUTSCH DURCH FREUD by RANDALL JARRELL LET THEM ALONE by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON BUILDING WITH STONE by ROBINSON JEFFERS A BETTER ANSWER (TO CHLOE JEALOUS) by MATTHEW PRIOR A DUTCH PROVERB by MATTHEW PRIOR A LETTER TO LADY [MISS] MARGARET-CAVANDISH-HOLLES-HARLEY, WHEN A CHILD by MATTHEW PRIOR |
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