Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): James Shirley

The dusk of days decline was hard on dark
When evening trembled round thy glowworm lamp
That shone across her shades and dewy damp
A small clear beacon whose benignant spark
Was gracious yet for loiterers eyes to mark,
Though changed the watchword of our English camp
Since the outposts rang round Marlowes lion ramp,
When thy steeds pace went ambling round Hyde Park.
And in the thickening twilight under thee
Walks Davenant, pensive in the paths where he,
The blithest throat that ever carolled love
In music made of mornings merriest heart,
Glad Suckling, stumbled from his seat above
And reeled on slippery roads of alien art.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. Born on April 5, 1837, in London, he became known for his innovative versification and erotic content. Swinburne was a central figure in the aesthetic and decadent movements. His major works include 'Poems and Ballads' and 'Atalanta in Calydon.' He died on April 10, 1909, in Putney, London. Swinburne's legacy is marked by his lyrical mastery and controversial themes, influencing countless poets thereafter.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

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English

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Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): Beaumont and Fletcher

An hour ere sudden sunset fired the west,
Arose two stars upon the pale deep east.
The hall of heaven was clear for nights high feast,
Yet was not yet days fiery heart at rest
Love leapt up from his mothers burning breast
To see those warm twin lights, as day decreased,
Wax wider, till when all the sun had ceased
As suns they shone from evenings kindled crest
Across them and between, a quickening fire,
Flamed Venus, laughing with appeased desire.
Their dawn, scarce lovelier for the gleam of tears,
Filled half the hollow shell twixt heaven and earth
With sound like moonlight, mingling moan and mirth,
Which rings and glitters down the darkling years.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): Christopher Marlowe

Crowned, girdled, garbed and shod with light and fire,
Son first-born of the morning, sovereign star!
Soul nearest ours of all, that wert most far,
Most far off in the abysm of time, thy lyre
Hung highest above the dawn-enkindled quire
Where all ye sang together, all that are,
And all the starry songs behind thy car
Rang sequence, all our souls acclaim thee sire.

If all the pens that ever poets held
Had fed the feeling of their masters thoughts,
And as with rush of hurtling chariots
The flight of all their spirits were impelled
Toward one great end, thy glory, nay, not then,
Not yet mightst thou be praised enough of men.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): Thomas Middleton

A wild moon riding high from cloud to cloud,
That sees and sees not, glimmering far beneath,
Hells children revel along the shuddering heath
With dirge-like mirth and raiment like a shroud:
A worse fair face than witchcrafts, passion-proud,
With brows blood-flecked behind their bridal wreath
And lips that bade the assassins sword find sheath
Deep in the heart whereto loves heart was vowed:
A game of close contentious crafts and creeds
Played till white England bring black Spain to shame:
A sons bright sword and brighter soul, whose deeds
High conscience lights for mothers love and fame:
Pure gipsy flowers, and poisonous courtly weeds:
Such tokens and such trophies crown thy name.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): Anonymous Plays

Ye too, dim watchfires of some darkling hour,
Whose fame forlorn time saves not nor proclaims
For ever, but forgetfulness defames
And darkness and the shadow of death devour,
Lift up ye too your light, put forth your power,
Let the far twilight feel your soft small flames
And smile, albeit night name not even their names,
Ghost by ghost passing, flower blown down on flower:
That sweet-tongued shadow, like a stars that passed
Singing, and light was from its darkness cast
To paint the face of Painting fair with praise:¹
And that wherein forefigured smiles the pure
Fraternal face of Wordsworths Elidure
Between two child-faced masks of merrier days.²

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): Thomas Decker

Out of the depths of darkling life where sin
Laughs piteously that sorrow should not know
Her own ill name, nor woe be counted woe;
Where hate and craft and lust make drearier din
Than sounds through dreams that grief holds revel in;
What charm of joy-bells ringing, streams that flow,
Winds that blow healing in each note they blow,
Is this that the outer darkness hears begin?
O sweetest heart of all thy time save one,
Star seen for loves sake nearest to the sun,
Hung lamplike oer a dense and doleful city,
Not Shakespeares very spirit, howeer more great,
Than thine toward man was more compassionate,
Nor gave Christ praise from lips more sweet with pity.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): The Many

I.

Greene, garlanded with Februarys few flowers,
Ere March came in with Marlowes rapturous rage:
Peele, from whose hand the sweet white locks of age
Took the mild chaplet woven of honoured hours:
Nash, laughing hard: Lodge, flushed from lyric bowers:
And Lilly, a goldfinch in a twisted cage
Fed by some gay great ladys pettish page
Till short sweet songs gush clear like short spring showers
Kid, whose grim sport still gambolled over graves:
And Chettle, in whose fresh funereal verse
Weeps Marian yet on Robins wildwood hearse:
Cooke, whose light boat of song one soft breath saves,
Sighed from a maidens amorous mouth averse:
Live likewise ye: Time takes not you for slaves.



II.

Haughton, whose mirth gave woman all her will:
...

Algernon Charles Swinburne