Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE KING'S BIRTHDAY, by BEN JONSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE KING'S BIRTHDAY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Rouse up thyself, my gentle muse
Last Line: That best of crowns is such a love.
Subject(s): Charles I, King Of England (1600-1649)


Rouse up thyself, my gentle muse,
Though now our green conceits be grey,
And yet once more do not refuse
To take thy Phrygian harp, and play
In honour of this cheerful day:
Long may they both contend to prove,
That best of crowns is such a love.

Make first a song of joy, and love,
Which chastely flames in royal eyes,
Then tune it to the spheres above,
When the benignest stars do rise,
And sweet conjunctions grace the skies.
Long may etc.

To this let all good hearts resound,
Whilst diadems invest his head;
Long may he live, whose life doth bound
More than his laws, and better led
By high example, than by dread.
Long may etc.

Long may he round about him see
His roses, and his lilies blown:
Long may his only dear, and he
Joy in ideas of their own,
And kingdom's hopes so timely sown.
Long may they both contend to prove,
That best of crowns is such a love.





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