Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, INSCRIPTION: EPITAPH ON KING JOHN, by ROBERT SOUTHEY



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

INSCRIPTION: EPITAPH ON KING JOHN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: John rests below. A man more infamous
Last Line: For they must bear the burthen of thy crime.
Subject(s): Epitaphs; John, King Of England (1167-1216); Lackland, John


JOHN rests below. A man more infamous
Has never held the sceptre of these realms,
And bruised beneath the iron rod of power,
The oppressed men of England. Englishman!
Curse not his memory. Murderer as he was,
Coward and slave, yet he it was who signed
That charter which should make thee, morn and night,
Be thankful for thy birth-place: Englishman!
That holy charter, which, shouldst thou permit
Force to destroy, or fraud to undermine,
Thy children's groans will persecute thy soul,
For they must bear the burthen of thy crime.





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