Social Commentaries

Of Monsters. To my Lady Rogers

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 2

Social Commentaries

STrange-headed Monsters, Painters haue described
To which the Poets strange parts haue ascribed,
As Ianus first two faces had assign'd him,
Of which, one look't before, tother behind him:
So men, may it be found in many places,
That vnderneath one hood can beare two faces.
Three-headed Cerberus, Porter of Hell,
Is faind with Pluto, God of wealth to dwell.
So still with greatest States, and men of might,
Dogs dwell, that doe both fawne, and bark, & bite.
Like Hydras heads, that multiply with wounds,
Is multitude, that mutinie confounds:
On what seu'n-headed beast the Strumpet sits,
That weares the scarfe, sore troubleth many wits,
Whether seu'n sinnes be meant, or else seu'n hils,
It is a question fit for higher skils.
But then of these, if you can rightly conster,
A headlesse woman is a greater Monster.

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Book 2, Epigram 93

MLA

Harington, John. “Of Monsters. To my Lady Rogers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/139/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Of Monsters. To my Lady Rogers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/139/.

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