Sunday, November 2, 2008

Wanton As Unfledged Cupids

Aphra Behn was the first woman that any English people knew of to earn her living through her literature. Of course that ignores the Hebrew and pagan Sybyls who lived on their words, as well as many other prophetess poets from a variety of religions around the world. Ah, so we are, we so easily assume that our own small circle represents the whole of vast creation. So Aphra Behn was hailed and hated as the first woman in the history of the world to earn her living with her writing.

During her time, the later 1600's, she had to struggle to be accepted as a legitimate author, although her work itself was largely popular. Funny how people can love your work and disapprove of your making it.


Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child,
The Last of Seven that Died Before

This little, silent, gloomy monument
Contains all that was sweet and innocent,
The softest prattler that e'er found a tongue.
His voice was music and his words a song,
Which now each listening angel smiling hears,
Such pretty harmonies compose the spheres.
Wanton as unfledged cupids, ere their charms
Had learned the little arts of doing harms,
Fair as young cherubim, as soft and kind,
And though translated could not be refined,
The seventh dear pledge the nuptual joys had given,
Where they the shining host of angels fill,
Spread their gay wings before the throne, and smile.


On her own tombstone is written, "Here lies a proof that wit can never be / Defence enough against mortality."


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3 comments:

Devika Jyothi said...

Dear Doug,
Thank you so much for your kind comments and blessings..i do not know how God connects things and show his presence...

i am through a very unusal period -- sometimes i feel i'm done with; sometimes i feel like back in the court...

but now mind is settling...
i wanted to be here in the morning..but my i didn't know i had such thing as mind until evening when i decided to take a break...

i have seen that you have so many new posts over here..i should be a regular here as well i know..

actualy i like to read the post, and comment my first thoughts on the post there itself..else i would have subscribed...with me reading via subsccriptions does not work much...and i like to interact while studying...

will come again when things are on line...

wishes!
devika

Doug P. Baker said...

Devika,

I also don't like to subscribe, for the same reason. I like to be present when I read a post. It is a conversation.

Take your rest. I'll see you when things are more calm for you.

Devika Jyothi said...

thanks Doug, so much

wishes
devika