FAREWELL, Renown! Too fleeting flower, That grows a year to last an hour; -- Prize of the race's dust and heat, Too often trodden under feet, -- Why should I court your 'barren dower?' Nay; -- had I Dryden's angry power, -- The thews of Ben, -- the wind of Gower, -- Not less my voice should still repeat, 'Farewell, Renown!' Farewell! -- Because the Muses' bower Is filled with rival brows that lower; -- Because, howe'er his pipe be sweet, The Bard, that 'pays,' must please the street; -- But most ... because the grapes are sour, -- Farewell, Renown! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AGAINST THEM WHO LAY UNCHASTITY TO THE SEX OF WOMAN by WILLIAM HABINGTON THE NEW COLOSSUS by EMMA LAZARUS THE SCRUTINY; SONG by RICHARD LOVELACE THE FAMILY MAN by JOHN GODFREY SAXE SONG, FR. MEASURE FOR MEASURE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE EN TOUR; A SONG SEQUENCE: 3. GENOA by ALBERTA BANCROFT |