Ezra Pound

The Temperaments

The Temperaments - meaning Summary

Sexual Reputation Versus Reality

Pound presents a satirical contrast between hidden sexual excess and public sobriety. Florialis carries numerous illicit acts in secret yet appears calm and asexual. Bastidides ostentatiously discusses sex and becomes publicly known as a father of twins, but his exploits come with humiliation: he is repeatedly cuckolded. The poem comments on reputation, privacy, and the ironic mismatch between private behavior and outward persona.

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Nine adulteries, 12 liaisons, 64 fornications and something approaching a rape Rest nightly upon the soul of our delicate friend Florialis, And yet the man is so quiet and reserved in demeanour That he passes for both bloodless and sexless. Bastidides, on the contrary, who both talks and writes of nothing save copulation, Has become the father of twins, But he accomplished this feat at some cost; He had to be four times cuckold.

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