To the Fair Clorinda
Aphra Behn
1640 to 1689
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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When e'er the Manly part of thee, wou'd plead
The Love to Hermes, Aphrodite the Friend.
When so much beauteous Woman is in view
And let me call thee, Lovely Charming Youth.
For sure no Crime with thee we can commit;
And without Blushes I the Youth persue,
Fair lovely Maid, or if that Title be
For who, that gathers fairest Flowers believes
Or if we shou'd – thy Form excuses it.
That we might Love, and yet be Innocent:
While we the noblest Passions do extend
This last will justifie my soft complainte,
Thou tempts us with the Image of the Maid,
With thy deluding Form thou giv'st us pain,
In pity to our Sex sure thou wer't sent,
WHO MADE LOVE TO ME,
Too weak, too Feminine for Nobler thee,
While the bright Nymph betrays us to the Swain.
Against thy Charms we struggle but in vain
Soft Cloris with the dear Alexis join'd;
Thou beauteous Wonder of a different kind,
A Snake lies hid beneath the Fragrant Leaves.
Permit a Name that more Approaches Truth:
IMAGIN'D MORE THAN WOMAN
While that may serve to lessen my constraint;