CCIV
If Grecian Helen pleaded with the tongue
The Chian lent her–sweetest tongue of earth!
If Agamemnon’s child forgot her birth,
And at my knee in panting beauty clung;
If fiery Cleopatra sued and hung
Fast to my restless hand in prurient mirth;
If chaste Lucretia wrecked her ancient worth;
And Rosamond’s hair about my face were flung;
If all the fairest creatures that have worn
The poets’ wreaths, the crowns of chivalry,
Were singly or in concourse offered me;
I would reject, in haste and simple scorn
The night-born stars, whose rise foreran thy morn,
Yea, from their homage turn to worship thee.
(George Henry Boker)
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Based on Topics: Faces Poems, Literature Poems, Birth Poems, Poets Poems, Haste Poems, Rejection PoemsBased on Keywords: agamemnon, sued, pleaded, concourse, rosamond, lucretia, chian, prurient, night-born, foreran