I WON a noble fame; But, with a sudden frown, The people snatched my crown, And, in the mire, trod down My lofty name. I bore a bounteous purse; And beggars by the way Then blessed me, day by day; But I, grown poor as they, Have now their curse. I gained what men call friends; But now their love is hate, And I have learned, too late, How mated minds unmate, And friendship ends. I clasped a woman's breast, -- As if her heart, I knew, Or fancied, would be true, -- Who proved, alas! she too! False like the rest. I now am all bereft, -- As when some tower doth fall, With battlement, and wall, And gate, and bridge, and all, -- And nothing left. But I account it worth All pangs of fair hopes crossed -- All loves and honors lost, -- To gain the heavens, at cost Of losing earth. So, lest I be inclined To render ill for ill, -- Henceforth in me instil, O God, a sweet good-will To all mankind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RYTON FIRS by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE THE ANNIVERSARY [ANNIVERSARIE] by JOHN DONNE HOMAGE TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM by WILLIAM EMPSON ASTROPHEL AND STELLA: FOURTH SONG by PHILIP SIDNEY AN HYMN OF HEAVENLY BEAUTY by EDMUND SPENSER WE ARE SEVEN by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE ROSE OF PEACE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS WINDOW TRIMMER by MARGARET LEE ASHLEY LINES ON THE DEATH OF PHILIP MEADOWS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |