Poems

Question 1

Next Heaven my Vows to thee (O Sacred Muse!)
I offer’d up, nor didst thou them refuse.

O Queen of Verse, said I, if thou’lt inspire,
And warm my Soul with thy Poetique Fire,
No Love of Gold shall share with thee my Heart,
Or yet Ambition in my Brest have Part,
More Rich, more Noble I will ever hold
The Muses Laurel, than a Crown of Gold.

Answer 1

“Upon the Saying That My Verses Were Made By Another”
Anne Killigrew
1868

Question 2

In pious times, ere priest-craft did begin,
Before polygamy was made a sin;
When man, on many, multipli’d his kind,
Ere one to one was cursedly confin’d:
When Nature prompted, and no Law deni’d
Promiscuous use of concubine and bride;
Then, Israel’s monarch, after Heaven’s own heart,
His vigorous warmth did variously impart
To wives and slaves: and, wide as his command,
Scatter’d his Maker’s image through the land.

Answer 2

“Absalom and Achitophel”
John Dryden
1681

Question 3

As some brave admiral, in former war
Deprived of force, but pressed with courage still,
Two rival fleets appearing from afar,
Crawls to the top of an adjacent hill;

Answer 3

“The Disabled Debauchee”
John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester
1680

Question 4

FORBEAR, bold youth ; all's heaven here, 
    And what you do aver 
To others courtship may appear, 
    'Tis sacrilege to her. 
She is a public deity ; 
    And were't not very odd 
She should dispose herself to be 
    A petty household god ?

Answer 4

“To One Persuading a Lady to Marriage”
Katherine Philips
1678

Question 5

Disarmed with so genteel an air,
   The contest I give o’er;
Yet, Alexander, have a care,
   And shock the sex no more.
We rule the world our life’s whole race,
   Men but assume that right;
First slaves to ev’ry tempting face,
   Then martyrs to our spite.
You of one Orpheus sure have read,
   Who would like you have writ
Had he in London town been bred,
   And polished too his wit;
But he poor soul thought all was well,
   And great should be his fame,
When he had left his wife in hell,
   And birds and beasts could tame.

Answer 5

“To Mr Popes Improptu”
Anne Finch
1717