Methought I saw the grave where Laura lay, Within that temple where the vestal flame Was wont to burn; and, passing by that way, To see that buried dust of living fame, Whose tomb fair Love, and fairer Virtue kept: All suddenly I saw the Fairy Queen; At whose approach the soul of Petrarch wept, And, from thenceforth, those Graces were not seen: For they this queen attended; in whose stead Oblivion laid him down on Laura'''s hearse: Hereat the hardest stones were seen to bleed, And groans of buried ghosts the heavens did pierce: Where Homer'''s spright did tremble all for grief, And cursed the access of that celestial thief! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PATIENCE TAUGHT BY NATURE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY (2) by JOHN BYROM THE MARSEILLAISE by CLAUDE JOSEPH ROUGET DE LISLE SABBATH HYMN ON THE MOUNTAINS by JOHN STUART BLACKIE LAUREL by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON ADVENTURERS by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN TO MISTRESS ANNE CECIL by WILLIAM CECIL |