Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TENDER HUSBAND: A SONG DESIGNED FOR THE FOURTH ACT, BUT NOT SET, by RICHARD STEELE Poet's Biography First Line: See, britons, see, with awful eyes Last Line: Or perish on as great a day. Subject(s): Patriotism | ||||||||
I. SEE, Britons, see, with awful eyes, Britannia from her seas arise! Ten thousand billows round me roar, While winds and waves engage, That break in froth upon my shore, And impotently rage. Such were the terrors which of late Surrounded my afflicted state; United fury thus was bent On my devoted seats, Till all the mighty force was spent In feeble swells, and empty threats. II. But now, with rising glory crowned, My joys run high, they know no bound; Tides of unruly pleasure flow Through every swelling vein, New raptures in my bosom glow, And warm me up to youth again. Passing pomps my streets adorn; Captive spoils, in triumph borne, Standards of Gauls, in fight subdued, Colours in hostile blood embrued, Ensigns of tyrannic might, Foes to equity and right, In courts of British justice wave on high, Sacred to law and liberty. My crowded theatres repeat, In songs of triumph, the defeat. Did ever joyful mother see So bright, so brave a progeny! Daughters with so much beauty crowned, Or sons for valour so renowned! III. But oh, I gaze and seek in vain To find, amidst this warlike train, My absent sons, that used to grace With decent pride this joyous place: Unhappy youths! how do my sorrows rise, Swell my breast, and melt my eyes, While I your mighty loss deplore? Wild, and raging with distress mourn, I mourn my own success, And boast my victories no more. Unhappy youths! far from their native sky, On Danube's banks interred they lie. Germania, give me back my slain, Give me my slaughtered sons again. Was it for this they ranged so far, To free thee from oppressive war? Germania, &c. IV. Tears of sorrow while I shed O'er the manes of my dead, Lasting altars let me raise To my living heroes' praise; Heaven give them a longer stay, As glorious actions to display, Or perish on as great a day. | 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 THE FUNERAL: EPILOGUE by RICHARD STEELE |
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