To His Mistress In Absence by Torquato Tasso
FAR from thy dearest self, the scope Of all my aims, I waste in secret flames; And only live because I hope. O when will Fate restore The joys, in whose bright fire My expectation shall expire, That I may live because I hope no more! ————— The End And that’s the End of the […]
“What weeping, or what dewfall,” by Torquato Tasso
What weeping, or what dewfall, Whose then were those tears, Flung from night’s cloak, I saw, And the white face of the stars? Why was the white moon sowing A pure cloud’s crystal mass In the lap of fresh new grass? Why were the winds heard, blowing, Through the dark air, round and round, Till […]
“Life of my life, you seem to me” by Torquato Tasso
Life of my life, you seem to me Like some pallid olive tree Or the faded rose I see: Nor do you lack beauty, But pleasing in every way to me, In shyness or in flattery, Whether you follow me or flee, Consume, destroy me softly. ————— The End And that’s the End of the […]
Jerusalem Delivered – Book 06 – part 03 by Torquato Tasso
XXIX This youth was one of those, who late desired With that vain-glorious boaster to have fought, But Tancred chosen, he and all retired; Now when his slackness he awhile admired, And saw elsewhere employed was his thought, Nor that to just, though chosen, once he proffered, He boldly took that fit occasion offered. XXX […]
Jerusalem Delivered – Book 03 – part 05 by Torquato Tasso
LXI “Presages, ah too true:” with that a space He sighed for grief, then said, “Fain would I know The man in red, with such a knightly grace, A worthy lord he seemeth by his show, How like to Godfrey looks he in the face, How like in person! but some-deal more low.” “Baldwin,” quoth […]
Jerusalem Delivered – Book 03 – part 04 by Torquato Tasso
XLVI Three times he strove to view Heaven’s golden ray, And raised him on his feeble elbow thrice, And thrice he tumbled on the lowly lay, And three times closed again his dying eyes, He speaks no word, yet makes his signs to pray; He sighs, he faints, he groans, and then he dies; Argantes […]
Jerusalem Delivered – Book 02 – part 01 by Torquato Tasso
THE ARGUMENT. Ismeno conjures, but his charms are vain; Aladine will kill the Christians in his ire: Sophronia and Olindo would be slain To save the rest, the King grants their desire; Clorinda hears their fact and fortunes plain, Their pardon gets and keeps them from the fire: Argantes, when Aletes’ speeches are Despised, defies […]
Ecco Mormorar L’onde (Now The Waves Murmur) by Torquato Tasso
Ecco mormorar l’onde, E tremolar le fronde A l’aura mattutina, e gli arboscelli, E sovra i verdi rami i vaghi augelli Cantar soavemente, E rider l’Oriente; Ecco già l’alba appare, E si specchia nel mare, E rasserena il cielo, E le campagne imperla il dolce gelo, E gli alti monti indora: O bella e vaga […]
To a Lady with an Unruly and Ill-mannered Dog Who Bit several Persons of Importance by Sir Walter Raleigh
To a Lady with an Unruly and Ill-mannered Dog Who Bit several Persons of Importance by Sir Walter Raleigh Your dog is not a dog of grace; He does not wag the tail or beg; He bit Miss Dickson in the face; He bit a Bailie in the leg. What tragic choices such a dog […]
The Nymph’s Reply To The Shepherd by Sir Walter Raleigh
The Nymph’s Reply To The Shepherd by Sir Walter Raleigh If all the world and love were young, And truth in every shepherd’s tongue, These pretty pleasures might me move To live with thee and be thy love. Time drives the flocks from field to fold When rivers rage and rocks grow cold, And Philomel […]
The Conclusion by Sir Walter Raleigh
The Conclusion by Sir Walter Raleigh EVEN such is Time, that takes in trust Our youth, our joys, our all we have, And pays us but with earth and dust; Who in the dark and silent grave, When we have wander’d all our ways, Shuts up the story of our days; But from this earth, […]
The Artist by Sir Walter Raleigh
The Artist by Sir Walter Raleigh The Artist and his Luckless Wife They lead a horrid haunted life, Surrounded by the things he’s made That are not wanted by the trade. The world is very fair to see; The Artist will not let it be; He fiddles with the works of God, And makes them […]
Stans Puer ad Mensam by Sir Walter Raleigh
Stans Puer ad Mensam by Sir Walter Raleigh Attend my words, my gentle knave, And you shall learn from me How boys at dinner may behave With due propriety. Guard well your hands: two things have been Unfitly used by some; The trencher for a tambourine, The table for a drum. We could not lead […]
Song of Myself by Sir Walter Raleigh
Song of Myself by Sir Walter Raleigh I was a Poet! But I did not know it, Neither did my Mother, Nor my Sister nor my Brother. The Rich were not aware of it; The Poor took no care of it. The Reverend Mr. Drewitt Never knew it. The High did not suspect it; The […]
Sestina Otiosa by Sir Walter Raleigh
Sestina Otiosa by Sir Walter Raleigh Our great work, the Otia Merseiana, Edited by learned Mister Sampson, And supported by Professor Woodward, Is financed by numerous Bogus Meetings Hastily convened by Kuno Meyer To impose upon the Man of Business. All in vain! The accomplished Man of Business Disapproves of Otia Merseiana, Turns his back […]
On Being Challenged to Write an Epigram in the Manner of Herrick by Sir Walter Raleigh
On Being Challenged to Write an Epigram in the Manner of Herrick by Sir Walter Raleigh To Griggs, that learned man, in many a bygone session, His kids were his delight, and physics his profession; Now Griggs, grown old and glum, and less intent on knowledge, Physics himself at home, and sends his kids to […]
Life by Sir Walter Raleigh
Life by Sir Walter Raleigh What is our life? A play of passion, Our mirth the music of division, Our mother’s wombs the tiring-houses be, Where we are dressed for this short comedy. Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is, That sits and marks still who doth act amiss. Our graves that hide us from the […]
Epitaph by Sir Walter Raleigh
Epitaph by Sir Walter Raleigh Even such is time, which takes in trust Our youth, our joys, and all we have, And pays us but with age and dust, Who in the dark and silent grave When we have wandered all our ways Shuts up the story of our days, And from which earth, and […]
A Literature Lesson. Sir Patrick Spens in the Eighteenth Century Manner by Sir Walter Raleigh
A Literature Lesson. Sir Patrick Spens in the Eighteenth Century Manner by Sir Walter Raleigh VERSE I In a famed town of Caledonia’s land, A prosperous port contiguous to the strand, A monarch feasted in right royal state; But care still dogs the pleasures of the Great, And well his faithful servants could surmise From […]