Once on a time he would have said -- Not all the ghouls of sorcery Can make me hang a craven head Nor shake a whimper out of me. For I could top that sullen night, Or outwear any woe that came, And look on good or evil plight As but the chances of a game. But now a night-hag hath me down! And I am staring, suddenly, As one who wakens from renown To staring notoriety -- The king his diadem shall wear! The half-king wear what gaud he can Until Time swings him by the hair, No king at all, and scarce a man! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THESMOPHORIAZUSAE: WOMEN'S CHORUS by ARISTOPHANES A COURT LADY by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE EMULATION by SARAH FYGE EGERTON NEW YEAR'S EVE by THOMAS HARDY WALT WHITMAN by HARRISON SMITH MORRIS AUTUMN (1) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI YARROW REVISITED by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |