Relationships

What is it all that men possess, among themselves conversing?

by Thomas Campion 1567–1620

From The Third Book of Airs (c. 1617)

Relationships

What is it all that men possess, among themselves conversing?
Wealth or fame, or some such boast, scarce worthy the rehearsing.
Women only are men's good, with them in love conversing
If weary, they prepare us rest; if sick, their hand attends us;
When with grief our hearts are prest, their comfort best befriends us:
Sweet or sour, they willing go to share what fortune sends us.
What pretty babes with pain they bear, our name and form presenting!
What we get, how wise they keep! by sparing, wants preventing;
Sorting all their household cares to our observed contenting.
All this, of whose large use I sing, in two words is expressed:
Good Wife is the good I praise, if by good men possessed;
Bad with bad in ill suit well; but good with good live blessed.

✦ ✦ ✦

The Third Book of Airs (c. 1617)

MLA

Campion, Thomas. “What is it all that men possess, among themselves conversing?” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/campion/81/.

Chicago

Campion, Thomas. “What is it all that men possess, among themselves conversing?” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/campion/81/.

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