Question

Why does the poet call the winter why not so unkind as man's ingratitude

Answer 1

The poet in the very beginning addresses the winter wind and says that it can blow as much hard as it likes because it is not so harsh and rude like man's nature of being ungrateful. The attack of the winter wind is not so sharp because it is not visible although it is bitingly cold

Answer 2

The winter wind is not so unkind as man's ingratitude. The tooth of the winter wind is not so keen because the winter wind is not seen. Shakespeare says that most friendship is feigning and most loving is mere folly. It means that the winter wind blows with great force.