In Praise of Shame
Title
In Praise of Shame
Description
Lord Alfred Douglas published this poem in praise of same-sex desire in Oxford's undergraduate literary journal. It was later used as evidence against Oscar Wilde in the first criminal trial.
Creator
Lord Alfred Douglas
Source
The Chameleon
Publisher
Gay and Bird
Date
December 1894
Relation
British Library: Image link
Text
Unto my bed last night, methought there came
Our lady of strange dreams, and from an urn
She poured live fire, so that mine eyes did burn
At sight of it. Anon the floating flame
Took many shapes, and one cried, 'I am Shame
That walks with Love, I am most wise to turn
Cold lips and limbs to fire; therefore discern
And see my loveliness, and praise my name.'
And afterward, in radiant garments dressed,
With sound of flutes and laughing of glad lips,
A pomp of all the passions passed along,
All the night through; till the white phantom ships
Of dawn sailed in. Whereat I said this song,
'Of all sweet passions Shame is loveliest.'
Our lady of strange dreams, and from an urn
She poured live fire, so that mine eyes did burn
At sight of it. Anon the floating flame
Took many shapes, and one cried, 'I am Shame
That walks with Love, I am most wise to turn
Cold lips and limbs to fire; therefore discern
And see my loveliness, and praise my name.'
And afterward, in radiant garments dressed,
With sound of flutes and laughing of glad lips,
A pomp of all the passions passed along,
All the night through; till the white phantom ships
Of dawn sailed in. Whereat I said this song,
'Of all sweet passions Shame is loveliest.'
Files
Citation
Lord Alfred Douglas, “In Praise of Shame,” Victorian Queer Archive, accessed April 26, 2024, https://victorianqueerarchive.omeka.net/items/show/9.