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Poem
October 28, 1826
The Ladies' Garland
Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A sonnet attributed to Shakespeare contrasts the simple, peaceful life of a shepherd with the cares and treasons afflicting royalty, ending with reference to King Henry VI.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A SONNET.--FROM SHAKSPEARE.
The blessings of a Shepherd's life contrasted with the miseries of Royalty.
O still methinks it were a happy lot,
To be no better than a homely swain,
The peaceful tenant of a little cot,
The blithe companion of a village train!
Where care, mistrust and treason banish sleep,
See on the glitt'ring couch the monarch laid;
While the poor swain encircled by his sheep,
Securely slumbers in the hawthorn shade;
To tend his flock is all his worldly care;
To rest and sport alternate hours are given,
Save when religion claims the pause of prayer,
And meditation wafts the soul to heaven.
Unruffled flows the tenor of his day,
Till Time's white honours o'er his temples wave,
And resignation, smiling 'midst decay,
Through Nature's path conducts him to the grave!
KING HENRY VI.
The blessings of a Shepherd's life contrasted with the miseries of Royalty.
O still methinks it were a happy lot,
To be no better than a homely swain,
The peaceful tenant of a little cot,
The blithe companion of a village train!
Where care, mistrust and treason banish sleep,
See on the glitt'ring couch the monarch laid;
While the poor swain encircled by his sheep,
Securely slumbers in the hawthorn shade;
To tend his flock is all his worldly care;
To rest and sport alternate hours are given,
Save when religion claims the pause of prayer,
And meditation wafts the soul to heaven.
Unruffled flows the tenor of his day,
Till Time's white honours o'er his temples wave,
And resignation, smiling 'midst decay,
Through Nature's path conducts him to the grave!
KING HENRY VI.
What sub-type of article is it?
Sonnet
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
Political
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Shepherd Life
Royalty Miseries
Pastoral Contrast
Shakespeare Sonnet
Henry Vi
What entities or persons were involved?
From Shakspeare.
Poem Details
Author
From Shakspeare.
Subject
The Blessings Of A Shepherd's Life Contrasted With The Miseries Of Royalty.
Key Lines
O Still Methinks It Were A Happy Lot,
To Be No Better Than A Homely Swain,
The Peaceful Tenant Of A Little Cot,
The Blithe Companion Of A Village Train!
Where Care, Mistrust And Treason Banish Sleep,
See On The Glitt'ring Couch The Monarch Laid;
While The Poor Swain Encircled By His Sheep,
Securely Slumbers In The Hawthorn Shade;
Unruffled Flows The Tenor Of His Day,
Till Time's White Honours O'er His Temples Wave,
And Resignation, Smiling 'Midst Decay,
Through Nature's Path Conducts Him To The Grave!