Читать книгу Poems. Volume 1 - George Meredith - Страница 9

   A wicked man is bad enough on earth;

   But O the baleful lustre of a chief

   Once pledged in tyranny!  O star of dearth

   Darkly illumining a nation’s grief!

   How many men have worn thee on their brows!

   Alas for them and us!  God’s precious gift

   Of gracious dispensation got by theft—

   The damning form of false unholy vows!

   The thief of God and man must have his fee:

   And thou, John Lackland, despicable prince—

   Basest of England’s banes before or since!

   Thrice traitor, coward, thief!  O thou shalt be

   The historic warning, trampled and abhorr’d

Who dared to steal and stain the symbols of the Lord!