The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem

"The Pastime of Pleasure: An Allegorical Poem" by Stephen Hawes is a poem from the 1500s that spins a tale of love, what we can know, and doing what is right when pushed up against a detailed historic stage. The poem tells of Graunde Amoure who is on a trip through towers that stand for the sciences and good habits as he chases after La Bell Pucell, who is the perfect picture of beauty and goodness. The story starts with Graunde Amoure in a field, met by Fame, a made-up character, who tells him about La Bell Pucell, a pretty girl, in a dangerous tower. To get to her, Graunde Amoure has a hard choice: think deeply or chase after what the world wants, pushing him to look for wisdom and bold moves. On his trip through towers that stand for science, Graunde Amoure is helped by characters like Grace and Governance, underlining how important learning and doing the right thing are to finding true love and happiness.

Stephen Hawes was an English poet of the Tudor period.