Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WATERLOO, by AUBREY DE VERE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WATERLOO, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Why have the mighty lived - why have they died?
Subject(s): Waterloo


WHY have the Mighty lived-why have they died?
Is it ever, thus, with idle wreck to strew
Fields such as thine, remorseless Waterloo?
Hopeless the lesson! Vainly hath ever cried
Stern Fate to man -"So perish human pride! "
Still must the Many combat for the Few:
Still must the noblest blood fair earth bedew:
Tyrants, slaves, freemen, mouldering side by side!
On such a day the World was lost, and won,
By Pompey at Pharsalia: such a day
Saw glorious Hannibal a fugitive:
So faded ' neath the Macedonian Sun
Persia's pale star: so empire passed away
From Harold's brow, but He disdained to live!






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