Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN EXPLANATION OF AN EMBLEM ENGRAVEN BY V.H., by THOMAS FLATMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN EXPLANATION OF AN EMBLEM ENGRAVEN BY V.H., by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Seest thou those rays, the light 'bove them?
Last Line: Give me the glory, that's above the crown.
Subject(s): Engraving & Engravers; Hollar, Vaclar (1607-1677)


SEEST thou those Rays, the Light 'bove them?
And that gay thing the Diadem?
The Wheel and Balance, which are tied
To th' Gold, black Clouds on either side?
Seest thou the winged Trumpeters withal,
That kick the World's blue tottering Ball?
The flying Globe, the Glass thereon,
Those fragments of a Skeleton?
The Bays, the Palms, the Fighting men,
And written Scroll? -- Come tell me then,
Did thy o'er-curious eye e'er see
An apter scheme of Misery?
What's all that Gold and sparkling Stones
To that bald Skull, to those Cross Bones?
What mean those Blades (whom we adore)
To stain the Earth with purple gore?
Sack stately towns, silk banners spread,
Gallop their coursers o'er the dead?
Far more than this? and all to sway
But till those sands shall glide away.
For when the bubble world shall fly
With stretch'd-out plumes, when the brisk eye
Shall close with anguish, sink with tears,
And th' angels' trumpets pierce our ears,
What's haughty man, or those fine things,
Which Heaven calls men, though men style kings?
Vain World, adieu! and farewell, fond renown!
Give me the Glory, that's above the Crown.





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