Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VIII. National Spirit. 1904. | | | | IV. Peace | | End of the Civil War | | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| | From “King Richard III.,” Act I. Sc. 1.
NOW is the winter of our discontent | |
| Made glorious summer by this sun of York, | |
| And all the clouds that lowered upon our house | |
| In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. | |
| Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; | 5 |
| Our bruisèd arms hung up for monuments; | |
| Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, | |
| Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. | |
| Grim-visaged War hath smoothed his wrinkled front; | |
| And now, instead of mounting barbèd steeds | 10 |
| To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, | |
| He capers nimbly in a lady’s chamber, | |
| To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. | | | | |
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