"To nature and the passions dead, / A brothel is his house and bed; / To fan the flame of warm desire, / And after wanton in the fire, / He thinks a labour; and his parts / Were not designed to conquer hearts."
— Chatterton, Thomas (1752-1770)
Work Title
Date
September 30, 1769?
Metaphor
"To nature and the passions dead, / A brothel is his house and bed; / To fan the flame of warm desire, / And after wanton in the fire, / He thinks a labour; and his parts / Were not designed to conquer hearts."
Metaphor in Context
A buck's a beast of th'other side,
And rëal but in hoofs and hide:
To nature and the passions dead,
A brothel is his house and bed;
To fan the flame of warm desire,
And after wanton in the fire,
He thinks a labour; and his parts
Were not designed to conquer hearts.
The girls of virtue when he views,
Dead to all converse but the stews,
Silent as death, he's nought to say,
But sheepish steals himself away.
This is a buck to life display'd,
A character to charm each maid.
Now, prithee, friend, a choice to make,
Wouldst choose the buck before the rake?
The buck, as brutal as the name,
Invenoms every charmer's fame,
And though he never touched her hand,
Protests he had her at command.
The rake, in gratitude for pleasure,
Keeps reputation dear as treasure...
And rëal but in hoofs and hide:
To nature and the passions dead,
A brothel is his house and bed;
To fan the flame of warm desire,
And after wanton in the fire,
He thinks a labour; and his parts
Were not designed to conquer hearts.
The girls of virtue when he views,
Dead to all converse but the stews,
Silent as death, he's nought to say,
But sheepish steals himself away.
This is a buck to life display'd,
A character to charm each maid.
Now, prithee, friend, a choice to make,
Wouldst choose the buck before the rake?
The buck, as brutal as the name,
Invenoms every charmer's fame,
And though he never touched her hand,
Protests he had her at command.
The rake, in gratitude for pleasure,
Keeps reputation dear as treasure...
Categories
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Chatterton, Thomas, and C. B. Willcox, The Poetical Works of Thomas Chatterton, With Notices of His Life, History of the Rowley Controversy, a Selection of His Letters, and Notes Critical and Explanatory (Cambridge: W.P. Grant, 1842).
Date of Entry
02/09/2005
