Popebot
@popebot.bsky.social
Alexander Pope, couplet by couplet. A bot by @stwalsh.bsky.social
And trust me, sir, the chastest you can choose,
Will ask observance, and exact her dues.
Will ask observance, and exact her dues.
January 27, 2026 at 3:01 PM
And trust me, sir, the chastest you can choose,
Will ask observance, and exact her dues.
Will ask observance, and exact her dues.
To please a wife, when her occasions call,
Would busy the most vig'rous of us all.
Would busy the most vig'rous of us all.
January 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM
To please a wife, when her occasions call,
Would busy the most vig'rous of us all.
Would busy the most vig'rous of us all.
But at these years to venture on the Fair!
By him who made the ocean, earth, and air,
By him who made the ocean, earth, and air,
January 27, 2026 at 12:59 PM
But at these years to venture on the Fair!
By him who made the ocean, earth, and air,
By him who made the ocean, earth, and air,
Do what you list, for me; you must be sage,
And cautious sure; for wisdom is in age:
And cautious sure; for wisdom is in age:
January 27, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Do what you list, for me; you must be sage,
And cautious sure; for wisdom is in age:
And cautious sure; for wisdom is in age:
But by th'immortal Powers I feel the pain,
And he that smarts has reason to complain.
And he that smarts has reason to complain.
January 27, 2026 at 11:49 AM
But by th'immortal Powers I feel the pain,
And he that smarts has reason to complain.
And he that smarts has reason to complain.
Demure and chaste as any vestal nun,
The meekest creature that beholds the sun!
The meekest creature that beholds the sun!
January 27, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Demure and chaste as any vestal nun,
The meekest creature that beholds the sun!
The meekest creature that beholds the sun!
While all my friends applaud my blissful life,
And swear no mortal's happier in a wife:
And swear no mortal's happier in a wife:
January 27, 2026 at 9:48 AM
While all my friends applaud my blissful life,
And swear no mortal's happier in a wife:
And swear no mortal's happier in a wife:
Heav'n knows I shed full many a private tear,
And sigh in silence lest the world should hear;
And sigh in silence lest the world should hear;
January 27, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Heav'n knows I shed full many a private tear,
And sigh in silence lest the world should hear;
And sigh in silence lest the world should hear;
And spite of all his praises must declare,
All he can find is bondage, cost, and care.
All he can find is bondage, cost, and care.
January 27, 2026 at 7:46 AM
And spite of all his praises must declare,
All he can find is bondage, cost, and care.
All he can find is bondage, cost, and care.
Ah, gentle Sir, take warning of a friend,
Who knows too well the state you thus commend;
Who knows too well the state you thus commend;
January 27, 2026 at 6:46 AM
Ah, gentle Sir, take warning of a friend,
Who knows too well the state you thus commend;
Who knows too well the state you thus commend;
But if her virtue prove the larger share,
Bless the kind Fates and think your fortune rare.
Bless the kind Fates and think your fortune rare.
January 27, 2026 at 5:45 AM
But if her virtue prove the larger share,
Bless the kind Fates and think your fortune rare.
Bless the kind Fates and think your fortune rare.
'T is true, perfection none must hope to find
In all this world, much less in womankind;
In all this world, much less in womankind;
January 27, 2026 at 4:44 AM
'T is true, perfection none must hope to find
In all this world, much less in womankind;
In all this world, much less in womankind;
Whether an easy, fond, familiar Fool,
Or such a Wit as no man e'er can rule.
Or such a Wit as no man e'er can rule.
January 27, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Whether an easy, fond, familiar Fool,
Or such a Wit as no man e'er can rule.
Or such a Wit as no man e'er can rule.
Whether she's chaste or rampant, proud or civil,
Meek as a saint, or haughty as the devil;
Meek as a saint, or haughty as the devil;
January 27, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Whether she's chaste or rampant, proud or civil,
Meek as a saint, or haughty as the devil;
Meek as a saint, or haughty as the devil;
And therefore, Sir, as you regard your rest,
First learn your lady's qualities at least:
First learn your lady's qualities at least:
January 27, 2026 at 1:55 AM
And therefore, Sir, as you regard your rest,
First learn your lady's qualities at least:
First learn your lady's qualities at least:
The venture's greater, I'll presume to say,
To give your person, than your goods away:
To give your person, than your goods away:
January 27, 2026 at 12:54 AM
The venture's greater, I'll presume to say,
To give your person, than your goods away:
To give your person, than your goods away:
Bids us be certain our concerns to trust
To those of gen'rous principles and just.
To those of gen'rous principles and just.
January 26, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Bids us be certain our concerns to trust
To those of gen'rous principles and just.
To those of gen'rous principles and just.
'A heathen author, of the first degree,
(Who, tho' not Faith, had Sense as well as we)
(Who, tho' not Faith, had Sense as well as we)
January 26, 2026 at 10:52 PM
'A heathen author, of the first degree,
(Who, tho' not Faith, had Sense as well as we)
(Who, tho' not Faith, had Sense as well as we)
Justin, who silent sate, and heard the man,
Thus with a philosophic frown began:
Thus with a philosophic frown began:
January 26, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Justin, who silent sate, and heard the man,
Thus with a philosophic frown began:
Thus with a philosophic frown began:
Who, past all pleasure, damn the joys of sense,
With rev'rend Dulness and grave Impotence.'
With rev'rend Dulness and grave Impotence.'
January 26, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Who, past all pleasure, damn the joys of sense,
With rev'rend Dulness and grave Impotence.'
With rev'rend Dulness and grave Impotence.'
Indulge the vigour of your mounting blood,
And let gray fools be indolently good,
And let gray fools be indolently good,
January 26, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Indulge the vigour of your mounting blood,
And let gray fools be indolently good,
And let gray fools be indolently good,
At least your courage all the world must praise,
Who dare to wed in your declining days.
Who dare to wed in your declining days.
January 26, 2026 at 6:49 PM
At least your courage all the world must praise,
Who dare to wed in your declining days.
Who dare to wed in your declining days.
Your will is mine; and is (I will maintain)
Pleasing to God, and should be so to Man;
Pleasing to God, and should be so to Man;
January 26, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Your will is mine; and is (I will maintain)
Pleasing to God, and should be so to Man;
Pleasing to God, and should be so to Man;
This, Sir, affects not you, whose ev'ry word
Is weigh'd with judgment, and befits a Lord:
Is weigh'd with judgment, and befits a Lord:
January 26, 2026 at 4:48 PM
This, Sir, affects not you, whose ev'ry word
Is weigh'd with judgment, and befits a Lord:
Is weigh'd with judgment, and befits a Lord:
Let him not dare to vent his dangerous thought;
A noble fool was never in a fault.
A noble fool was never in a fault.
January 26, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Let him not dare to vent his dangerous thought;
A noble fool was never in a fault.
A noble fool was never in a fault.