Non Dolet

Algernon Charles Swinburne 1837 (London) – 1909 (London)



It does not hurt.  She looked along the knife
  Smiling, and watched the thick drops mix and run
  Down the sheer blade; not that which had been done
Could hurt the sweet sense of the Roman wife,
But that which was to do yet ere the strife
  Could end for each for ever, and the sun:
  Nor was the palm yet nor was peace yet won
While pain had power upon her husband's life.

It does not hurt, Italia.  Thou art more
  Than bride to bridegroom; how shalt thou not take
  The gift love's blood has reddened for thy sake?
Was not thy lifeblood given for us before?
  And if love's heartblood can avail thy need,
  And thou not die, how should it hurt indeed?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

39 sec read
87

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBAABBA CDDCEE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 650
Words 127
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 6

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He wrote several novels and collections of poetry such as Poems and Ballads, and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. Swinburne wrote about many taboo topics, such as lesbianism, cannibalism, sado-masochism, and anti-theism. His poems have many common motifs, such as the ocean, time, and death. Several historical people are featured in his poems, such as Sappho ("Sapphics"), Anactoria ("Anactoria"), Jesus ("Hymn to Proserpine": Galilaee, La. "Galilean") and Catullus ("To Catullus"). more…

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