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AN EPITAPH ON SIR JOHN PROWDE, LIEUTENANT TO CHARLES MORGAN by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643)

Poet Analysis

First Line: AFTER A MARCH OF TWENTY YEARS AND MORE
Last Line: THAT HONOUR LAID ME IN THE BED OF WAR.
Subject(s): EPITAPHS; GROENLO, THE NETHERLANDS; PROWDE, SIR JOHN (D. 1627); WAR;
SLAIN AT THE SIEGE OF GROLL, AND BURIED AT ZUTPHEN, 1627.

AFTER a march of twenty years and more,
I set me down on Yssel's warlike shore;
There now I lie intrench'd, where none can seize me,
Until an host of angels come to raise me.
War was my mistress, and I courted her
As Semele was by the Thunderer:
The mutual tokens 'twixt us two allow'd
Were bullets wrapt in fire, sent in a cloud;
One I received, which made my pass so far,
That honour laid me in the bed of war.



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