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

Tom, if they loved thee best who called thee Tom.
What else may all men call thee, seeing thus bright
Even yet the laughing and the weeping light
That still thy kind old eyes are kindled from?
Small care was thine to assail and overcome
Time and his child Oblivion: yet of right
Thy name has part with names of lordlier might
For English love and homely sense of home,
Whose fragrance keeps thy small sweet bayleaf young
And gives it place aloft among thy peers
Whence many a wreath once higher strong Time has hurled:
And this thy praise is sweet on Shakespeares tongue
O good old man, how well in thee appears
The constant service of the antique world!

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

A Childs Thanks

Algernon Charles Swinburne, Simple Poetry

Super Flumina Babylonis

Algernon Charles Swinburne, Simple Poetry

Before a Crucifix

Algernon Charles Swinburne, Simple Poetry

Tenebræ

Algernon Charles Swinburne, Simple Poetry

English

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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): William Shakespeare

Not if men's tongues and angels' all in one
Spake, might the word be said that might speak Thee.
Streams, winds, woods, flowers, fields, mountains, yea, the sea,
What power is in them all to praise the sun?
His praise is this,he can be praised of none.
Man, woman, child, praise God for him; but he
Exults not to be worshipped, but to be.
He is; and, being, beholds his work well done.
All joy, all glory, all sorrow, all strength, all mirth,
Are his: without him, day were night on earth.
Time knows not his from time's own period.
All lutes, all harps, all viols, all flutes, all lyres,
Fall dumb before him ere one string suspires.
All stars are angels; but the sun is God.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

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): 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): George Chapman

High priest of Homer, not elect in vain,
Deep trumpets blow before thee, shawms behind
Mix music with the rolling wheels that wind
Slow through the labouring triumph of thy train:
Fierce history, molten in thy forging brain,
Takes form and fire and fashion from thy mind,
Tormented and transmuted out of kind:
But howsoeer thou shift thy strenuous strain,
Like Tailor¹ smooth, like Fisher² swollen, and now
Grim Yarrington³ scarce bloodier marked than thou,
Then bluff as Maynes⁴ or broad-mouthed Barrys⁵ glee ,
Proud still with hoar predominance of brow
And beard like foam swept off the broad blown sea,
Whereer thou go, mens reverence goes with thee.

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