Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PROLOGUE FOR MR. WOODS, by ROBERT BURNS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When by a generous public's kind acclaim Last Line: Till fate the curtain drop on worlds to be no more. Subject(s): Brotherhood; Equality; Patriotism | ||||||||
When by a generous Public's kind acclaim, That dearest meed is granted-honest fame; Waen here your favour is the actor's lot, Nor even the man in private life forgot; What breast so dead to heavenly Virtue's glow, But heaves impassion'd with the grateful throe? Poor is the task to please a barb'rous throng, It needs no Siddons' powers in Southern's song; But here an ancient nation, fam'd afar, For genius, learning high, as great in war. Hail, Caledonia, name for ever dear! Before whose sons I'm honour'd to appear? Where every science, every nobler art, That can inform the mind or mend the heart, Is known; as grateful nations oft have found, Far as the rude barbarian marks the bound. Philosophy, no idle pedant dream, Here holds her search by heaven-taught Reason's beam; Here History paints with elegance and force The tide of Empire's fluctuating course; Here Douglas forms wild Shakespeare into plan, And Harley rouses all the God in man. When well-form'd taste and sparkling wit unite With manly lore, or female beauty bright, (Beauty, where faultless symmetry and grace Can only charm us in the second place), Witness my heart, how oft with panting fear, As on this night, I've met these judges here! But still the hope Experience taught to live, Equal to judge -- you're candid to forgive. No hundred-headed riot here we meet, With decency and law beneath his feet; Nor Insolence assumes fair Freedom's name: Like Caledonians, you applaud or blame. O Thou, dread Power! whose empire-giving hand Has oft been stretch'd to shield the honour'd land! Strong may she glow with all her ancient fire; May every son be worthy of his sire; Firm may she rise, with generous disdain At Tyranny's, or direr Pleasure's chain; Still Self-dependent in her native shore, Bold may she brave grim Danger's loudest roar, Till Fate the curtain drop on worlds to be no more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SHINE, REPUBLIC by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS SEVEN LAMENTS FOR THE WAR-DEAD: 6 by YEHUDA AMICHAI A CAROL FOR THE NEW YEAR by EDWIN MARKHAM A SONG OF VICTORY by EDWIN MARKHAM BROTHERHOOD (1) by EDWIN MARKHAM THE ERRAND IMPERIOUS by EDWIN MARKHAM A BARD'S EPITAPH by ROBERT BURNS A POET'S WELCOME TO HIS LOVE-BEGOTTEN DAUGHTER by ROBERT BURNS |
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