THERE was a time in Europe long ago When no man died for freedom anywhere, But England's lion leaping from its lair Laid hands on the oppressor! it was so While England could a great Republic show. Witness the men of Piedmont, chiefest care Of Cromwell, when with impotent despair The Pontiff in his painted portico Trembled before our stern ambassadors. How comes it then that from such high estate We have thus fallen, save that Luxury With barren merchandise piles up the gate Where nobler thoughts and deeds should enter by: Else might we still be Milton's heritors. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A CATY-DID by PHILIP FRENEAU ESCAPE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 12. TO SIR FRANCIS HENRY DRAKE, BARONET by MARK AKENSIDE MARIE MIGNOT by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM VERSES TO THE MEMORY OF MARY FLETCHER by BERNARD BARTON PSALM 55 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE AN EPITAPH ON SIR JOHN PROWDE, LIEUTENANT TO CHARLES MORGAN by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |