Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO THE KING ON IS BIRTHDAY. AN EPIGRAM. NOVEMBER 19, 1632, by BEN JONSON



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TO THE KING ON IS BIRTHDAY. AN EPIGRAM. NOVEMBER 19, 1632, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: This is king charles his day. Speak it, thou tower
Last Line: What prayers (people) can you think too much?
Subject(s): Charles I, King Of England (1600-1649)


This is King Charles his day. Speak it, thou tower,
Unto the ships, and they from tier, to tier,
Discharge it 'bout the island, in an hour,
As loud as thunder, and as swift as fire.
Let Ireland meet it out at sea, half way,
Repeating all Great Britain's joy, and more,
Adding her own glad accents, to this day,
Like Echo playing from the other shore.
What drums or trumpets, or great ordinance can,
The poetry of steeples, with the bells,
Three kingdoms' mirth, in light, and airy man,
Made lighter with the wine. All noises else,
At bonfires, rockets, fireworks, with the shouts
That cry that gladness, which their hearts would pray,
Had they but grace, of thinking, at these routs,
On the often coming of this holiday:
And ever close the burden of the song,
Still to have such a Charles, but this Charles long.
The wish is great; but where the prince is such,
What prayers (people) can you think too much?





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