Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PEOPLE, by TOMASSO CAMPANELLA


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PEOPLE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The people is a beast of muddy brain
Last Line: To tell this truth, it kills him unforgiven.
Subject(s): Human Behavior


The people is a beast of muddy brain
That knows not its own force, and therefore stands
Loaded with wood and stone; the powerless hands
Of a mere child guide it with bit and rein:
One kick would be enough to break the chain;
But the beast fears, and what the child demands,
It does; nor its own terror understands,
Confused and stupefied by bugbears vain.
Most wonderful! with its own hand it ties
And gags itself -- gives itself death and war
For pence doled out by kings from its own store.
Its own are all things between earth and heaven;
But this it knows not; and if one arise
To tell this truth, it kills him unforgiven.





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