Classic and Contemporary Poetry
POLITICAL PROLOGUE: TO 'THE UNHAPPY FAVORITE,' BY JOHN BANKS, by JOHN DRYDEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When first the ark was landed on the shore Last Line: Still to havesuch a king, and this king long. Variant Title(s): Prologue And Epilogue To The Unhappy Favorite: Prologue Spoken To The Subject(s): Charles Ii, King Of England (1630-1685); England; Mankind; Peace; English; Human Race | ||||||||
WHEN first the Ark was landed on the Shore, And Heav'n had vowed to curse the Ground no more, When Tops of Hills the longing Patriark saw, And the new Scene of Earth began to draw, The Dove was sent to View the Waves Decrease, And first brought back to Man the Pledge of Peace. 'Tis needless to apply, when those appear Who bring the Olive, and who Plant it here. We have before our Eyes the Royal Dove, Still Innocence is Harbinger to Love. The Ark is open'd to dismiss the Train, And people with a better Race the Plain. Tell me, you Pow'rs, why should vain Man pursue With endless Toyl each object that is new, And for the seeming Substance leave the true? Why should he quit for Hopes his certain good, And loath the Manna of his daily food? Must England still the Scene of Changes be, Tost and Tempestuous like our Ambient Sea? Must still our Weather and our Wills agree? Without our Blood our Liberties we have; Who that is Free would fight to be a Slave? Or what can Wars to after Times Assure, Of which our Present Age is not secure? All that our Monarch would for us Ordain Is but t' injoy the Blessings of his Reign. Our Land's an Eden and the Main's our Fence, While we preserve our State of Innocence: That lost, then Beasts their Bruital Force employ, And first their Lord and then themselves destroy. What Civil Broilshave cost we knew too well; Oh! let it be enough that once we fell, And every Heart conspire, with every Tongue, Still to havesuch a King, and this King Long. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOW MUCH EARTH by PHILIP LEVINE THE SHEEP IN THE RUINS by ARCHIBALD MACLEISH THE CONQUERORS by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY THE MARMOZET by HILAIRE BELLOC MEN, WOMEN, AND EARTH by ROBERT BLY BROTHERS: 3. AS FOR MYSELF by LUCILLE CLIFTON A SONG FOR ST. CECILIA'S DAY by JOHN DRYDEN A SONG TO A FAIR YOUNG LADY GOING OUT OF TOWN IN THE SPRING by JOHN DRYDEN |
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