Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IMITATIONS OF SHAKESPEARE: A STORM, by JOHN ARMSTRONG


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IMITATIONS OF SHAKESPEARE: A STORM, by                    
First Line: The sun went down in wrath
Last Line: Seven days it stormed, &c.
Subject(s): Shakespeare - King Henry V; Storms


RAISED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE LATE RETURN OF A MESSENGER.

.... The sun went down in wrath;
The skies foamed brass, and soon the unchained winds
Burst from the howling dungeon of the north:
And raised such high delirium on the main,
Such angry clamour; while such boiling waves
Flashed on the peevish eye of moody night,
It looked as if the seas would scald the heavens.
Still louder chid the winds, the enchafed surge
Still answered louder; and when the sickly morn
Peeped ruefully through the blotted thick-browed east
To view the ruinous havoc of the dark,
The stately towers of Athens seemed to stand
On hollow foam tide-whipt; the ships that lay
Scorning the blast within the marble arms
Of the sea-chid Portumnus, danced like corks
Upon the enraged deep, kicking each other;
And some were dashed to fragments in this fray
Against the harbour's rocky chest. The sea
So roared, so madly raged, so proudly swelled,
As it would thunder full into the streets,
And steep the tall Cecropian battlements
In foaming brine. The airy citadel,
Perched like an eagle on a high-browed rock,
Shook the salt water from its stubborn sides
With eager quaking; the Cyclades appeared
Like ducking cormorants—Such a mutiny
Out-clamoured all tradition, and gained belief
To ranting prodigies of heretofore.
Seven days it stormed, &c.





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