dots-menu
×

Home  »  The World’s Best Poetry  »  Give a Rouse

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

III. War

Give a Rouse

Robert Browning (1812–1889)

KING CHARLES, and who ’ll do him right now?

King Charles, and who ’s ripe for fight now?

Give a rouse: here ’s, in hell’s despite now,

King Charles!

Who gave me the goods that went since?

Who raised me the house that sank once?

Who helped me to gold I spent since?

Who found me in wine you drank once?

(Chorus)
King Charles, and who ’ll do him right now?

King Charles, and who ’s ripe for fight now?

Give a rouse: here ’s, in hell’s despite now,

King Charles!

To whom used my boy George quaff else,

By the old fool’s side that begot him?

For whom did he cheer and laugh else,

While Noll’s damned troopers shot him?

(Chorus)
King Charles, and who ’ll do him right now?

King Charles, and who ’s ripe for fight now?

Give a rouse: here ’s, in hell’s despite now,

King Charles!