Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VALENTINIAN; A TRAGEDY: THE SOLILOQUY OF MAXIMUS, by JOHN WILMOT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VALENTINIAN; A TRAGEDY: THE SOLILOQUY OF MAXIMUS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tis then a certain truth that I am wrong'd
Last Line: Him and my shame I'le tread into one grave.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of


Max. 'Tis then a certain truth that I am wrong'd,
Wrong'd in that barb'rous manner I imagin'd:
Alas, I was in hopes I had been mad,
And that these Horrors which invade my Heart,
Were but distracted melancholy Whimseys:
But they are real truths (it seems) and I
The last of men, and vilest of all Beings.

Bear me cold Earth who am too weak to move
Beneath my load of Shame and Misery
Wrong'd by my lawful Prince, robb'd of my Love,
Branded with everlasting infamy.
Take pity Fate, and give me leave to die:

Gods! would you be ador'd for being good,
Or only fear'd for proving mischievous?
How would you have your Mercy understood?
Who would create a Wretch like Maximus,
Ordain'd tho' guiltless to be infamous?

Supream first Causes! you, whence all things flow,
Whose infiniteness does each little fill,
You, who decree each seeming Chance below,
(So great in Power) were you as good in Will,
How could you ever have produc'd such ill?

Had your eternal minds been bent to good?
Could humane happiness have prov'd so lame
Rapine, Revenge, Injustice, thirst of Blood,
Grief, Anguish, Horror, Want, Despair and Shame,
Had never found a Being nor a Name.

'Tis therefore less impiety to say,
Evil with you has Coeternity,
Than blindly taking it the other way,
That merciful and of election free,
You did create the mischiefs you foresee.

Wretch that I am, on Heav'n to exclame,
When this poor tributary Worm below,
More than myself in nothing but in name,
Who durst invade me with this fatal Blow,
I dare not crush in the Revenge I owe.
Not all his Power, shall the wild Monster save;
Him and my shame I'le tread into one Grave.





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