Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEATH OF MARLBOROUGH, by GEORGE WALTER THORNBURY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DEATH OF MARLBOROUGH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The sun shines on the chamber wall
Last Line: "aye, something then, but now!"
Subject(s): Churchill, John (1650-1722); Marlborough, 1st Duke Of


THE sun shines on the chamber wall,
The sun shines through the tree,
Now, though unshaken by the wind,
The leaves fall ceaselessly;
The bells from Woodstock's steeple
Shake Blenheim's fading bough.
"This day you won Malplaquet," --
"Aye, something then, but now!"

They lead the old man to a chair,
Wandering, pale and weak;
His thin lips move -- so faint the sound
You scarce can hear him speak.
They lift a picture from the wall,
Bold eyes and swelling brow;
"The day you won Malplaquet," --
"Aye, something then, but now!"

They reach him down a rusty sword,
In faded velvet sheath:
The old man drops the heavy blade,
And mutters 'tween his teeth;
There's sorrow in his fading eye,
And pain upon his brow;
"With this you won Malplaquet," --
"Aye, something then, but now!"

Another year, a stream of lights
Flows down the avenue;
A mile of mourners, sable clad,
Walk weeping two by two;
The steward looks into the grave
With sad and downcast brow:
"This day he won Malplaquet, --
Aye, something then, but now!"





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