A Poem

[Nandragon]

I am thinking of using this in a project.
Not quite sure how I'm going to work it in.

however, some opinions please....there's lots of opinions here for sure.

What's your take on "tis paid with sighs a plenty, and sold for endless rue" means?

by A. E. Housman (1859-1936)
When I was one-and-twenty
I heard a wise man say,
'Give crowns and pounds and guineas
But not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
But keep your fancy free.'
But I was one-and-twenty,
No use to talk to me.
When I was one-and-twenty
I heard him say again,
'The heart out of the bosom
Was never given in vain;
'Tis paid with sighs a plenty
And sold for endless rue.'
And I am two-and-twenty,
And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.

[Nandragon]

no takers?

I don't believe it!

[johny_roberts]

Its definatly aimed towards youngsters stating that there is more to life than money and to respect life. Now for project wise something aimed at 14 to 20 I guess.

my two cents

[Nandragon]

yes but what of this stanza?

'Tis paid with sighs a plenty
And sold for endless rue.'

rue....

[Fuzzy Dice]

as in, what does it mean?

'Tis paid with sighs a plenty
And sold for endless rue.'


means that the cost of love is heartbreak - hence the sighs, and rue means regret, sort of.

the poem itself is about the perils of love. Spend your money freely and however you want, but don't give away your love, or you will get hurt. But being young, he ignored the advice given to him and has now learned the lesson himself.


'Be wary, ye who trust in love. For oft times it may leave thee with a penance imposed upon thy heart.'

[Nandragon]

actually, I think the poem is loved so much by an admired physician is that his father quoted the poem quite often...that when he was 1 and 20, he didn't know didly
then when he was 2 and 20, he knew a "leetle" more...

or not.