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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE MASQUE OF AUGURS: APOLLO'S SONG by BEN JONSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHICH WAY, AND WHENCE THE LIGHTNING FLEW
Last Line: IN THIS NIGHT'S ART.

Which way and whence the lightning flew,
Or how it burned bright and blue,
Design and figure by your lights;
Then forth, and show the several flights
Your birds have made, or what the wing
Or voice in augury doth bring;
Which hand the crow cried on, how high
The vulture or the erne did fly,
What wing the swan made, and the dove,
The stork, and which did get above;
Show all the birds of food or prey,
But pass by the unlucky jay,
The night-crow, swallow, or the kite:
Let those have neither right,

CHORUS
nor part
In this night's art.



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