413. The Fair Singer by Andrew Marvell
b'A Marvell read by Classic Poetry Aloud: Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\\nwww.classicpoetryaloud.com\\n\\n--------------------------------------------\\n\\nThe Fair Singer\\nby Andrew Marvell (1621 \\u2013 1678)\\n\\nTo make a final conquest of all me,\\nLove did compose so sweet an enemy,\\nIn whom both beauties to my death agree,\\nJoining themselves in fatal harmony;\\nThat, while she with her eyes my heart does bind,\\nShe with her voice might captivate my mind.\\n\\nI could have fled from one but singly fair ;\\nMy disentangled soul itself might save,\\nBreaking the curl\\xe8d trammels of her hair ;\\nBut how should I avoid to be her slave, \\nWhen subtle art invisibly can wreathe\\nMy fetters of the very air I breathe ?\\n\\nIt had been easy fighting in some plain,\\nWhere victory might hang in equal choice,\\nBut all resistance against her is vain,\\nWho has the advantage both of eyes and voice;\\nAnd all my forces needs must be undone,\\nShe having gained both the wind and sun. \\n\\nFirst aired: 9 February 2008\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n\\nReading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2009'