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Comment by internet_points

6 hours ago 

    My echoing song; then worms shall try
    That long-preserved virginity,
    And your quaint honour turn to dust,
    And into ashes all my lust;

hah, barely couched at all

3 comments

internet_points

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gjm11  24 minutes ago

Note that at the time this was written the word "quaint" had both (1) roughly its modern meaning -- unusual and quirky, with side-orders of prettiness and (at the time) ingenuity, fastidiousness, and pride -- and also (2) a rather different meaning, equivalent to a shorter word ending in -nt.

So, even less couched than some readers might realise.

svat  25 minutes ago

Don't miss the response “His Coy Mistress To Mr. Marvell” (by A. D. Hope): https://allpoetry.com/His-Coy-Mistress-To-Mr.-Marvell

    Since you have world enough and time
    Sir, to admonish me in rhyme,
    Pray Mr Marvell, can it be
    You think to have persuaded me?
    
    […]
    
    But-- well I ask: to draw attention
    To worms in-- what I blush to mention,
    And prate of dust upon it too!
    Sir, was this any way to woo?