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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
EPILOGUE TO THE TRAGEDY OF CATO, by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU Poet's Biography First Line: You see in ancient rome what folly reign'd Last Line: Our modern heroes, not to act the same? Alternate Author Name(s): Montagu, Mary Wortley; Pierrepont, Mary | |||
You see in ancient Rome what folly reign'd; A folly British men would have disdain'd. Here's none so weak to pity Cato's case, Who might have liv'd, and had a handsome place; But rashly vain, and insolently great, He perish'd by his fault -- and not his fate. Thank Heav'n! our patriots better ends pursue, With something more than glory in their view. Poets write morals -- priests for martyrs preach -- Neither such fools to practice what they teach. Though your dear country much you wish to serve, For bonny Britons 'tis too hard to starve; Or what's all one, to any generous mind, From girls, champagne, and gaming, be confin'd; Portius might well obey his sire's command, Returning to his small paternal land; A low estate was ample to support His private life, far distant from the court! Far from the crowd of emulating beaux, Where Martia never wanted birthday clothes. For you, who live in these more polish'd days, To spend your money, lo! ten thousand ways; Dice may run ill, or duns demand their due, And ways to get (God knows) are very few; In times so differing, who shall harshly blame Our modern heroes, not to act the same? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU SIX TOWN ECLOGUES: SATURDAY; THE SMALL-POX by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU THE LOVER: A BALLAD by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU VERSES ADDRESSED TO IMITATOR OF FIRST SATIRE OF HORACE by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU A MAN IN LOVE by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU A SYNOPSIS OF LORD LYTTLETON'S 'ADVICE TO A LADY' by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU ADDRESSED TO - by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU ADVICE by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU AN ANSWER TO A LOVE-LETTER IN VERSE by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU EPIGRAM by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU EPILOGUE TO MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS; SPOKEN BY MRS. OLDFIELD by MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU |
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