To the Fair Clorinda

Aphra Behn

1640 to 1689

Poem Image
Track 1

Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. You can also print out the jumbled poem to cut up and reassemble in the classroom. Either way, take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.

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For who, that gathers fairest Flowers believes
WHO MADE LOVE TO ME,
The Love to Hermes, Aphrodite the Friend.
Fair lovely Maid, or if that Title be
While the bright Nymph betrays us to the Swain.
And without Blushes I the Youth persue,
Too weak, too Feminine for Nobler thee,
    Thou beauteous Wonder of a different kind,
When e'er the Manly part of thee, wou'd plead
Thou tempts us with the Image of the Maid,
This last will justifie my soft complainte,
A Snake lies hid beneath the Fragrant Leaves.
That we might Love, and yet be Innocent:
While we the noblest Passions do extend
And let me call thee, Lovely Charming Youth.
Permit a Name that more Approaches Truth:
While that may serve to lessen my constraint;
When so much beauteous Woman is in view
IMAGIN'D MORE THAN WOMAN
For sure no Crime with thee we can commit;
With thy deluding Form thou giv'st us pain,
Against thy Charms we struggle but in vain
Or if we shou'd – thy Form excuses it.
In pity to our Sex sure thou wer't sent,
Soft Cloris with the dear Alexis join'd;