NEW come from Church (a Place where I Might have been fortifide All Tempests to abide) A Storme of News both foule & high Blew in my Face, & quickly beat Me over E'r a reflected thought I could recover. I had forgot this Age of lies, Wherin Fame's Trumpet now Yt in ye wars doth blow Sounds none but usefull victories, Mystick Defeats not gotten untill they Outface Us, & our timorous Hopes betray. Yet what if Fame for once hath given To her owne Trade ye Lie, And spoke a Veritie? What if my Partie now be driven To flight, & must expect another Day Wherin to pluck their most deserved Bay? Must I be Umpire, must ye Fate Of Mighty Armies be Waiting on my Decree? Is Heavns Command growne out of date, Or does not God much better know then I, Which Partie ought to reap ye Victorie? Sure He is Lord of Hosts, & may Show Conquests where he please: Perhaps a Thorne agrees At this time better then a Bay With those, whom my fond & unfriendly love Though They grow prowd, would still have Victors prove. Laurells a glorious Curse may be, Hells Legions are not Blessed because they put Poore Men sometimes to flight. Nay Wee Though Conquered, by humble Patience may Snatch Triumphs from their hands, who win ye Day. Let them Triumph: Still @3Truth@1 & @3Right@1 Though beaten are ye best. Should these not be opprest Sometimes, our just suspition might Be questioning, whither they be not of kin To those faire Names, which mask our Enemies Sin. @3Patience, Great Lord,@1 on us bestow; Palmes in our value far Nobler then Laurells are: So We may have this Prize, doe Thou Bestow ye Day on whom it pleaseth Thee: Patience is sure & ample Victorie. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UPLANDS IN MAY by CARL SANDBURG DISCONTENTS IN DEVON by ROBERT HERRICK WHITE FIELDS by JAMES STEPHENS IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 28 by ALFRED TENNYSON A TOUCH OF NATURE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH FAMILIAR EPISTLE TO A LITTLE BOY by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM |