Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FALSTAFF'S LAMENT OVER PRINCE HAL BECOME HENRY V, by HERMAN MELVILLE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FALSTAFF'S LAMENT OVER PRINCE HAL BECOME HENRY V, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: One that I cherished
Last Line: Here's to thee, hal!
Subject(s): Dramatists; Plays & Playwrights; Poetry & Poets; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)


One that I cherished,
Yea, loved as a son --
Up early, up late with,
My promising one:
No use in good nurture,
None, lads, none!

Here on this settle
He wore the true crown,
King of good fellows,
And Fat Jack was one --
Now, Beadle of England
In formal array --
Best fellow alive
On a throne flung away!

Companions and cronies
Keep fast and lament; --
Come drawer, more sack here
To drown discontent;

For now intuitions
Shall wither to codes,
Pragmatical morals
Shall libel the gods. --

One I instructed,
Yea, talked to -- alone:
Precept -- example
Clean away thrown!

(Sorrow makes thisty:
Sack, drawer, more sack! --)
One that I prayed for,
I, Honest Jack! --

To bring down these gray hairs --
To cut his old pal!
But, I'll be magnanimous --
Here's to thee, Hal!





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