WHAT hopest thou, Goddess, when thy envious care Strews rocks and thorns to check my onward way? That I should tremble at thy fickle sway? Or toil in vain to catch thy flying hair? With threats like these, awake the dastard fears Of him who crouches to thy base controul: Know, I could see, with calm intrepid soul, The world in ruins and the falling spheres. Nor am I new to dangers and alarms; Long didst thou prove me in the doubtful fight; From trying conflicts and opposing harms I rose more valiant, and confirmed in might. From falling hammers thus, the tempered arms Strike with a keener edge, and beam more dazzling light. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CLOTE (WATER-LILY) by WILLIAM BARNES THE GIRL OF CADIZ by GEORGE GORDON BYRON MACFLECKNOE; OR, A SATIRE UPON THE TRUE-BLUE-PROTESTANT POET by JOHN DRYDEN TO A CHAMELEON by MARIANNE MOORE DEATH by MALTBIE DAVENPORT BABCOCK TO BARON DE STONNE WITH AIKIN'S ESSAYS ON SONG-WRITING by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |