Songs Set To Music: 8. Set By Mr. Smith

Matthew Prior 1664 – 1721



Still, Dorinda, I adore;
Think I mean not to deceive you,
For I loved you much before,
And, alas! now love you more
Though I force myself to leave you.

Staying I my vows shall fail,
Virtue yields as love grows stronger;
Fierce desires will prevail,
You are fair and I am frail,
And dare trust myself no longer.

You, my love, too nicely coy,
Lest I should have gain'd the treasure,
Made my vows and oaths destroy
The pleasing hopes I did enjoy
Of all my future peace and pleasure.

To my vows I have been true,
And in silence hid my anguish,
But I cannot promise too
What my love may make me do
While with her for whom I languish.

For in thee strange magic lies,
And my heart is too, too tender;
Nothing's proof against those eyes,
Best resolves and strictest ties
To their force must soon surrender.

But, Dorinda, you're severe,
I much doting thus to sever:
Since from all I hold most dear,
That you may no longer fear,
I divorce myself for ever.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

55 sec read
64

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAAB CDCCD EDEED BFBBF GDGGD HDHHD
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 925
Words 182
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Matthew Prior

Matthew Prior was an English poet and diplomat. more…

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    "Songs Set To Music: 8. Set By Mr. Smith" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/27427/songs-set-to-music:-8.-set-by-mr.-smith>.

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