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Friday 18 October 2013

To Mary Wollstonecraft by Robert Southey

    The lilly cheek, the "purple light of love,"
    The liquid lustre of the melting eye,--
    Mary! of these the Poet sung, for these
    Did Woman triumph! with no angry frown
    View this degrading conquest. At that age
    No MAID OF ARC had snatch'd from coward man
    The heaven-blest sword of Liberty; thy sex
    Could boast no female ROLAND'S martyrdom;
    No CORDE'S angel and avenging arm
    Had sanctified again the Murderer's name
    As erst when Caesar perish'd: yet some strains
    May even adorn this theme, befitting me
    To offer, nor unworthy thy regard.

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