Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VALENTINE TO THE HON. MARY C. STANHOPE, by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Hail, day of music, day of love Last Line: All good attend my valentine! Alternate Author Name(s): Macaulay, 1st Baron Subject(s): Holidays; Valentine's Day | ||||||||
HAIL, day of Music, day of Love, On earth below, in air above. In air the turtle fondly moans, The linnet pipes in joyous tones; On earth the postman toils along, Bent double by huge bales of song, Where, rich with many a gorgeous dye, Blazes all Cupid's heraldry-- Myrtles and roses, doves and sparrows, Love-knots and altars, lamps and arrows. What nymph without wild hopes and fears The double rap this morning hears! Unnumbered lasses, young and fair, From Bethnal Green to Belgrave Square, With cheeks high flushed, and hearts loud-beating, Await the tender annual greeting. The loveliest lass of all is mine-- Good morrow to my Valentine! GOOD morrow, gentle child! and then Again good morrow, and again, Good morrow following still good morrow, Without one cloud of strife or sorrow. And when the god to whom we pay In jest our homages to-day Shall come to claim, no more in jest, His rightful empire o'er thy breast, Benignant may his aspect be, His yoke the truest liberty: And if a tear his power confess, Be it a tear of happiness. It shall be so. The Muse displays The future to her votary's gaze; Prophetic rage my bosom swells-- I taste the cake--I hear the bells! From Conduit Street the close array Of chariots barricades the way To where I see, with outstretched hand, Majestic, thy great kinsman stand, And half unbend his brow of pride, As welcoming so fair a bride. Gay favours, thick as flakes of snow, Brighten St. George's portico: Within I see the chancel's pale, The orange flowers, the Brussels veil, The page on which those fingers white, Still trembling from the awful rite, For the last time shall faintly trace The name of Stanhope's noble race, I see kind faces round thee pressing, I hear kind voices whisper blessing; And with those voices mingles mine-- All good attend my Valentine! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH ON A JACOBITE by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY HORATIUS [AT THE BRIDGE], FR. LAYS OF ANCIENT ROME by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY THE ARMADA; A FRAGMENT by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY THE BATTLE OF NASEBY by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN'S TRIP TO CAMBRIDGE; ELECTION BALLAD by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY A RADICAL WAR-SONG by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY COMING OF CHARLEMAGNE by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY DIES IRAE by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY EPITAPH ON HENRY MARTYN by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY EPITAPH ON LORD METCALFE by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY EPITAPH ON SIR BENJAMIN HEALTH MALKIN, AT CALCUTTA by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY INSCRIPTION ON STATUE OF LORD WILLIAM BENTINCK AT CALCUTTA by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY |
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