LADIES that gild the glittering noon, And by reflection mend his ray, Whose beauty makes the sprightly sun To dance as upon Easter-day, What are you now the Queen's away? Courageous Eagles, who have whet Your eyes upon majestic light, And thence derived such martial heat That still your looks maintain the fight, What are you since the King's good-night? Cavalier-buds, whom Nature teems As a reserve for England's throne, Spirits whose double edge redeems The last Age and adorns your own, What are you now the Prince is gone? As an obstructed fountain's head Cuts the entail off from the streams, And brooks are disinherited, Honour and Beauty are mere dreams Since Charles and Mary lost their beams! Criminal Valours, who commit Your gallantry, whose paean brings A psalm of mercy after it, In this sad solstice of the King's, Your victory hath mewed her wings! See, how your soldier wears his cage Of iron like the captive Turk, And as the guerdon of his rage! See, how your glimmering Peers do lurk, Or at the best, work journey-work! Thus 'tis a general eclipse, And the whole world is al-a-mort; Only the House of Commons trips The stage in a triumphant sort. Now e'en John Lilburn take 'em for't! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OF THE THEME OF LOVE by MARGARET LUCAS CAVENDISH HIS GRANGE, OR PRIVATE WEALTH by ROBERT HERRICK MARTHY VIRGINIA'S HAND [SEPTEMBER 17, 1862] by GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP THE REAR-GUARD by SIEGFRIED SASSOON CHINA 1937 by LAURA FRANCES ALEXANDER AN EVENING PRAYER by C. MAUDE BATTERSBY |