Chronicles and Characters By Robert Lytton (Owen Meredith): In Two Volumes |
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| I. | I.
THE POETS. |
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 | Chronicles and Characters |  |
I. THE POETS.
1
All she-creatures that existPower can subdue,
Save the Muse,—that could resist
Cardinal Richelieu.
2
He the War of Thirty YearsWith his right hand led:
Struck the turbulent French peers,
With his left hand, dead.
3
Mad-dog Luther loosed to biteEmperor Charles and Rome:
But the Huguenots held tight,
Kennel-chain'd, at home.
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4
Greatest man of many great!When to see him came
The Queen Mother, forced to wait,
Stood the royal dame:
5
Round him he, with haughty mienRome's proud purple wrapp'd:
Trembling stood the bare-head Queen:
Richelieu sat capp'd.
6
Only little poets wereGombault, Desmarets,
Colletet, and Boisrobert:
Yet, whenever they
7
Came to see the Cardinal,Each kept on his hat.
Proud as princes, one and all,
These small poets sat:
8
And, while they in critic moodDid his rhymes review,
Trembling and bare-headed stood
Cardinal Richelieu.
| Chronicles and Characters | |