Poems

On a Certain Lady at Court I know a thing that’s most uncommon; (Envy, be silent and attend!) I know a reasonable woman, Handsome and witty, […]

Sound and Sense True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, As those move easiest who have learned to dance. ‘Tis not enough no harshness […]

Summer See what delights in sylvan scenes appear! Descending Gods have found Elysium here. In woods bright Venus with Adonis stray’d, And chaste Diana haunts the […]

The Dunciad: Book IV Yet, yet a moment, one dim ray of light Indulge, dread Chaos, and eternal Night! Of darkness visible so much be lent, […]

The Dying Christian to His Soul Vital spark of heav’nly flame! Quit, O quit this mortal frame: Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying, O the pain, the bliss […]

The Iliad: Book VI (excerpt) He said, and pass’d with sad presaging heart To seek his spouse, his soul’s far dearer part; At home he sought […]

The Rape of the Lock Part 1 What dire Offence from am’rous Causes springs, What mighty Contests rise from trivial Things, I sing — This Verse […]

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 1 Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos; Sedjuvat, hoc precibus me tribuisse tuis. (Martial, Epigrams 12.84) What dire offence from am’rous […]

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 2 Not with more glories, in th’ etherial plain, The sun first rises o’er the purpled main, Than, issuing forth, […]

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 3 Close by those meads, for ever crown’d with flow’rs, Where Thames with pride surveys his rising tow’rs, There stands […]