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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TO KING CHARLES by ANDREW MARVELL

Poet Analysis

First Line: O FIGURE FIVE, PRESAGING EVIL FATE
Last Line: IN HARMONY'S FIVE NOTES, O FATHER SHINE.

O figure FIVE, presaging evil fate
T' Earth's best! O hated Hades' five-fold gate!
O England's scandal, and abhorr'd of Heaven!
To purge its stain, O @3Charles@1, to thee is given.
Since kind @3Lucina@1 give thee a FIFTH child,
Pentathlon shall thy children five be styled.
Wouldst thou be famous in many an after-book,
In thy fair children see a Pentateuch;
And since thou lovest poesy divine,
In Harmony's five notes, O Father shine.



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