How does the structure of the poem affect its meaning?


Each stanza relates a reason the speaker avoids becoming close with others.

The stanzas alternate between describing positive and negative aspects of love.

The stanzas work together to tell a story of a single failed romance.


Each stanza describes ways the speaker has treated others in relationships.


Read the poem.

A Thousand Martyrs
by Aphra Behn

Aphra Behn lived and wrote in the 1600s and was the first woman in England to make a living as a professional writer. A political spy, playwright, novelist, and poet, Aphra broke social barriers while her literary works tackled controversial topics, including slavery, racism, desire, and gender. Her writings were considered scandalous for the time.

A thousand martyrs I have made,

All sacrificed to my desire;

A thousand beauties have betrayed,

That languish in resistless fire.

The untamed heart to hand I brought,

And fixed the wild and wandering thought.



I never vowed nor sighed in vain

But both, though false, were well received.

The fair are pleased to give us pain,

And what they wish is soon believed.

And though I talked of wounds and smart,

Love’s pleasures only touched my heart.



Alone the glory and the spoil

I always laughing bore away;

The triumphs, without pain or toil,

Without the hell, the heav’n of joy.

And while I thus at random rove

Despise the fools that whine for love.