Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TRIUMPHS OF OWEN: A FRAGMENT, by THOMAS GRAY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TRIUMPHS OF OWEN: A FRAGMENT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Owen's praise demands my song
Last Line: Despair and honourable death.
Subject(s): Owain Gwynedd, King Of North Wales; Wales; Welshmen; Welshwomen


Owen's praise demands my song,
Owen swift, and Owen strong;
Fairest flower of Roderic's stem,
Gwyneth's [North Wales] shield, and Britain's gem.
He nor heaps his brooded stores,
Nor on all profusely pours;
Lord of every regal art,
Liberal hand, and open heart.

Big with hosts of mighty name,
Squadrons three against him came;
This the force of Eirin hiding,
Side by side as proudly riding,
On her shadow long and gay
Lochlin [Denmark] plows the watry way;
There the Norman sails afar
Catch the winds, and join the war:
Black and huge along they sweep,
Burthens of the angry deep.

Dauntless on his native sands
The Dragon-Son of Mona stands;
In glitt'ring arms and glory drest,
High he rears his ruby crest.
There the thund'ring strokes begin,
There the press, and there the din;
Talymalfra's rocky shore
Echoing into the battle's roar.
Where his glowing eye-ball turn,
Thousand Banners round him burn.
Where he points his purple spear,
Hasty, hasty Rout is there,
Marking with indignant eye
Fear to stop, and shame to fly
There Confusion, Terror's child,
Conflict fierce, and Ruin wild,
Agony, that pants for breath,
Despair and honourable Death.




Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net