For thirty years secluded from mankind Here Marten linger'd. Often have these walls Echoed his footsteps, as with even tread He paced around his prison; not to him Did Nature Fair varieties exist; He never saw the sun's delightful beams, Save when through yon high bars he pour'd a sad And broken splendour. Dost thou ask his crime? He had rebelled against the king, and sat In judgment on him; for his ardent mind Shaped goodliest plans of happiness on earth, And peace and liberty. Wild dreams! but such As Plato loved; such as with holy zeal Our Milton worshipp'd. Blessed hopes! a while From man withheld, even to the latter days When Christ shall come, and all things be fulfill'd! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ANYWHERE OUT OF THE WORLD by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE CLOUDS by EDUARD VON BAUERNFELD BIOTHANATOS by JOSEPH BEAUMONT THE PHOENIX TO MRS. BUTTS by WILLIAM BLAKE THE CHANCE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN ELEGY ON A LADY, WHOM GRIEF FOR THE DEATH OF HER BETHROTHED KILLED by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE NAME by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |