Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MAJESTY IN MISERY; OR, AN IMPLORATION TO THE KING OF KINGS, by CHARLES I First Line: Great monarch of the world, from whose power springs Last Line: Yet, though we perish, bless this church and state. Subject(s): Adversity; Courts & Courtiers; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens | ||||||||
GREAT Monarch of the World, from whose Power Springs The Potency and Power of Kings, Record the Royal Woe my Suffering sings; And teach my tongue, that ever did confine Its faculties in Truth's Seraphic Line, To track the Treasons of thy foes and mine. Nature and law, by thy Divine Decree (The only Root of Righteous Royaltie) With this dim Diadem invested me: With it the sacred Scepter, Purple Robe, The Holy Unction, and the Royal Globe: Yet am I levelled with the life of Job. The fiercest Furies, that do daily tread Upon my Grief, my Gray Dis-crownèd Head, Are those that owe my Bounty for their Bread. They raise a War, and Christen it The Cause, Whilst sacrilegious hands have best applause, Plunder and Murder are the Kingdom's Laws; Tyranny bears the Title of Taxation, Revenge and Robbery are Reformation, Oppression gains the name of Sequestration. My loyal Subjects, who in this bad season Attend me (by the law of God and Reason), They dare impeach and punish for High Treason. Next at the Clergy do their Furies frown; Pious Episcopacy must go down; They will destroy the Crosier and the Crown. Churchmen are chained and Schismaticks are free'd, Mechanicks preach, and Holy Fathers bleed, The Crown is crucifièd with the Creed. The Church of England doth all factions foster, The pulpit is usurped by each imposter, Extempore excludes the Pater Noster. The Presbyter and Independent seed Springs with broad blades; to make Religion bleed, Herod and Pontius Pilate are agreed. The corner-stone's misplaced by every Pavier: With such a bloody method and behaviour Their Ancestors did crucify our Saviour. My Royal Consort, from whose fruitful Womb So many Princes legally have come, Is forced in Pilgrimage to seek a Tomb. Great Britain's Heir is forcèd into France, Whilst on his father's head his foes advance: Poor child! He weeps at his Inheritance. With my own Power my Majesty they wound In the King's name the King himself's uncrowned: So doth the Dust destroy the Diamond. With Propositions daily they enchant My People's ears, such as do reason daunt, And the Almighty will not let me grant. They promise to erect my Royal Stem, To make Me great, t' advance my Diadem, If I will first fall down, and worship them. But, for refusal, they devour my Thrones, Distress my Children, and destroy my bones; I fear they 'll force me to make bread of stones. My Life they prize at such a slender rate That in my absence they draw Bills of hate, To prove the King a Traytor to the State. Felons obtain more priviledge than I: They are allowed to answer ere they die; 'T is death for me to ask the reason Why. But, Sacred Saviour, with thy words I woo Thee to forgive, and not be bitter to Such as thou know'st do not know what they do. For since they from their Lord are so disjointed As to contemn those Edicts he appointed, How can they prize the Power of his Anointed? Augment my Patience, nullifie my Hate, Preserve my Issue, and inspire my Mate: Yet, though We perish, bless this Church and State. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOTHWELL: PART 4 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN IN PHARAOH'S TOMB by HAYDEN CARRUTH FOR THE INVESTITURE by CECIL DAY LEWIS ELEGY ASKING THAT IT BE THE LAST; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE L,ENVOI: IN OUR TIME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY VASHTI by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS TO CARMEN SYLVA (QUEEN OF ROUMANIA) by EMMA LAZARUS HALF-WAKING by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM |
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