I WHO next?--The third Calixtus, where He who the last assumed the name, And four years Rome's tiara bare; Alphonso, King of mighty fame; The Bourbon Duke devoid of blame; And Arthur Duke of proud Bretaigne; Charles, who the title 'Good' doth claim;-- But--where the peerless Charlemagne? II Or of the Scottish king declare, Half of whose face--so tales proclaim-- Did like a scarlet ruby glare-- All e'en from brow to chin the same; That King of Cyprus, known to fame, Alas! and the good King of Spain, Of whom I not recall the name? But--where the peerless Charlemagne? III To cite more heroes I forbear, 'Tis useless labour to declaim; None against death victorious are; No skill can ward his fatal aim. Yet one more question will I frame, Lancelot, the monarch of Behaigne, Where is he, and his race of fame? But--where the peerless Charlemagne? ENVOY Where claquin, now, that Breton rare? Where the Count Dauphin of Auvergne? Or Alencon's good Duke, say where? But--where the peerless Charlemagne? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GOLDEN CORPSE by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET AFTER THE PAPAGO by JAMES GALVIN PENT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ODE TO THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY by SIDNEY LANIER IN THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE AT NEWPORT by EMMA LAZARUS SUGGESTED BY THE COVER OF A VOLUME OF KEATS'S POEMS by AMY LOWELL |