A woman is a foreign land, <br />Of which, though there he settle young, <br />A man will ne'er quite understand <br />The customs, politics, and tongue. <br />The foolish hie them post-haste through, <br />See fashions odd, and prospects fair, <br />Learn of the language, "How d'ye do," <br />And go and brag they have been there. <br />The most for leave to trade apply, <br />For once, at Empire's seat, her heart, <br />Then get what knowledge ear and eye <br />Glean chancewise in the life-long mart. <br />And certain others, few and fit, <br />Attach them to the Court, and see <br />The Country's best, its accent hit, <br />And partly sound its polity.<br /><br />Coventry Patmore<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-foreign-land/
