Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert BrowningBrowning, Robert
General
Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning
Browning, Robert
Drama; English poetry; Poetry -- Collections
Hampden to hell, and his obsequies' knell
Serve Hazelrig, Fiennes, and young Harry as well! 15
England, good cheer! Rupert is near!
Kentish and loyalists, keep we not here,
CHORUS.--_Marching along, fifty-score strong,_
_Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song?_
Then, God for King Charles! Pym and his snarls 20
To the Devil that pricks on such pestilent carles!
Hold by the right, you double your might;
So, onward to Nottingham, fresh for the fight.
CHORUS.--_March we along, fifty-score strong,_
_Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song!_
II
GIVE A ROUSE
King Charles, and who'll do him right now?
King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?
Give a rouse; here's, in hell's despite now,
King Charles!
Who gave me the goods that went since? 5
Who raised me the house that sank once?
Who helped me to gold I spent since?
Who found me in wine you drank once?
CHORUS.--
_King Charles, and who'll do him right now?_
_King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?_ 10
_Give a rouse; here's, in hell's despite now,_
_King Charles!_
To whom used my boy George quaff else,
By the old fool's side that begot him?
For whom did he cheer and laugh else, 15
While Noll's damned troopers shot him?
CHORUS.--
_King Charles, and who'll do him right now?_
_King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?_
_Give a rouse; here's, in hell's despite now,_
_King Charles!_ 20
III
BOOT AND SADDLE
Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!
Rescue my castle before the hot day
Brightens to blue from its silvery gray,
CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!_
Ride past the suburbs, asleep as you'd say; 5
Many's the friend there, will listen and pray
"God's luck to gallants that strike up the lay--
CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"_
Forty miles off, like a roebuck at bay,
Flouts Castle Brancepeth the Roundheads' array; 10
Who laughs, "Good fellows ere this, by my fay,
CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"_
Who? My wife Gertrude; that, honest and gay,
Laughs when you talk of surrendering, "Nay!
I've better counselors; what counsel they? 15
CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"_
THE LOST LEADER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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