Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LINES WRITTEN IN THE 16TH CENTURY, by ROBERT SOUTHEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LINES WRITTEN IN THE 16TH CENTURY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: For aye be hynce ye vayne delyghts
Last Line: Forlettying erthlie loste.
Subject(s): England; Mexico; Poetry & Poets; Religion; English; Theology


FOR aye be hynce ye vayne delyghts
So short as seeme the guiltie nyghtes
Yatte men forweare inne folie!
This lowlie world hath nothyng swote
Hadde mortals onlie wytte to know yt
But halie melancholie.

Then welcome armes yatte folded lye
From heavie breste the long-drawn sye,
The purses of the browe,
The loke yrooted to the growne,
The tong ychaynde withouten sowne,
Unguided steps and slowe.

The moonlight walk in pathless grove
Where aye pale passion yearnes to rove,
The well hede-kele and still.
The midnyghte howre when all the fowles
Are housde and hushte save battes and owles
Yatte screche theyre bodynges shrille.

The fadyng clink of dystaunt bell
Whose knell the tale of dethe doth tell,
The grone of partyng ghoste,
These sownes aleyne the sowle doth feede
Yatte of a higher world hath hede,
Forlettying erthlie loste.





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