The Foreign Land
The Foreign Land
Original Text
Coventry Patmore, The Angel in the House, Book II (London: J. W. Parker, 1856). PR 5142 A75 1854 Robarts Library
1A woman is a foreign land,
2 Of which, though there he settle young,
3A man will ne'er quite understand
4 The customs, politics, and tongue.
5The foolish hie them post-haste through,
6 See fashions odd, and prospects fair,
7Learn of the language, "How d'ye do,"
8 And go and brag they have been there.
9The most for leave to trade apply,
10 For once, at Empire's seat, her heart,
11Then get what knowledge ear and eye
12 Glean chancewise in the life-long mart.
13And certain others, few and fit,
14 Attach them to the Court, and see
15The Country's best, its accent hit,
16 And partly sound its polity.
Publication Start Year
1856
RPO poem Editors
J. D. Robins
RPO Edition
2RP.2.556; RPO 1996-2000.
Rhyme