In pride of wit when high desire of fame Gave life and courage to my laboring pen, And first the sound and virtue of my name Won grace and credit in the ears of men, With those the thronged theatres that press I in the circuit for the laurel strove, Where the full praise, I freely must confess, In heat of blood a modest mind might move, With shouts and claps at every little pause When the proud round on every side hath rung, Sadly I sit, unmov'd with the applause, As though to me it nothing did belong. No public glory vainly I pursue; All that I seek is to eternize you. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FRIENDLY WOOD by PAUL VALERY THE DARK MAN by NORA (CHESSON) HOPPER THE MOURNER A LA MODE by JOHN GODFREY SAXE MARIA MINOR by MARGARET AVISON SEPTEMBER, 1939 by VERA MARY BRITTAIN BRITANNIA'S PASTORALS: BOOK 1. THE THIRD SONG by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) |