Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

Edmund Waller (1606–1687)

Extract from His Majesty’s Escape at St. Andrews

WHILE to his harp divine Arion sings

The loves and conquests of our Albion kings;

Of the fourth Edward was his noble song,

Fierce, goodly, valiant, beautiful and young;

He rent the crown from vanquished Henry’s head,

Raised the white rose, and trampled on the red,

Till love triumphing o’er the victor’s pride,

Brought Mars and Warwick to the conquered side,—

Neglected Warwick, whose bold hand like fate,

Gives and resumes the sceptre of our state,

Wooes for his Master, and with double shame,

Himself deluded, mocks the princely dame,—

The Lady Bona, whom just anger burns,

And foreign war with civil rage returns;

Ah! spare your sword, where beauty is to blame,

Love gave the affront, and must repair the same,

When France shall boast of her, whose conquering eyes

Have made the best of English hearts their prize,

Have power to alter the decrees of fate,

And change again the counsels of our state.