Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD VII, by WILLIAM WATSON


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ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD VII, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Honour the happy dead with sober praise
Last Line: Pretended not to greatness, yet was great.
Alternate Author Name(s): Watson, John William
Subject(s): Edward Vii, King Of England (1841-1910)


HONOUR the happy dead with sober praise,
Who living would have scorned the fulsome phrase,
Meet for the languorous Orient's jewelled ear; --
This was the English King, that loved the English ways!
A man not too remote, or too august,
For other mortal children of the dust
To know and to draw near.
Born with a nature that demanded joy,
He took full draughts of life, nor did the vintage cloy;
But when she passed from vision, who so long
Had sat aloft -- alone --
On the steep heights of an Imperial throne,
Then rose he large and strong,
Then spake his voice with new and grander tone,
Then, called to rule the State
Which he had only served,
He saw clear Duty plain, nor from that highway swerved,
And, unappalled by his majestic fate,
Pretended not to greatness, yet was great.





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