The Metaphysical Poets

By John Milton

Samuel Johnson wrote in reference to the beginning of the seventeenth century that there "appeared a race of writers that may be termed the metaphysical poets". Widely regarded in the years since as a distinct Poetical movement it is interesting to note that from what we now know the Metaphysical poets did not, in the main, read or know one another. Samuel Johnson was not an admirer of the group as he decried their distinct lack of the decorum of the day and stylistic impurity but the poems here testify that it bands together a wonderful group of poets and their poems in an inspiring and thought provoking volume.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Copyright Group
• Release date: Jan 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781783947850

Book preview

The Metaphysical Poets

Samuel Johnson wrote in reference to the beginning of the seventeenth century that there appeared a race of writers that may be termed the metaphysical poets.  Widely regarded in the years since as a distinct Poetical movement it is interesting to note that from what we now know the Metaphysical poets did not, in the main, read or know one another. Samuel Johnson was not an admirer of the group as he decried their distinct lack of the decorum of the day and stylistic impurity but the poems here testify that it bands together a wonderful group of poets and their poems in an inspiring and thought provoking volume.

Index Of Poems

An Elegy On Ben Jonson by John Cleveland

The Rebel Scot by John Cleveland

Elizabeth of Bohemia by Sir Henry Wotton

Sonnet of Black Beauty by Lord Edward Herbert of Cherbury

A Contemplation Upon Flowers by Henry King

Renunciation by Henry King

Silence. A Sonnet by Henry King

Lord When The Wise Men Came From Farr by Sidney Godolphin

To Althea From Prison by Richard Lovelace

Depose Your Finger of That Ring by Richard Lovelace

The Relapse by Thomas Stanley

Childhood by Henry Vaughan

Beyond The Veil by Henry Vaughan

Man by Henry Vaughan

Euthanasia by Richard Crashaw

On Marriage by Richard Crashaw

Wishes To His (Supposed) Mistress by Richard Crashaw

Kind and True by Aurelian Townshend

To His Forsaken Mistress by Sir Robert Ayton

When, Dearest, I But Think On Thee by Owen Fellham

To Roses in the Bosom of Castara by William Habington

Love Turned to Hatred by Sir John Suckling

A Doubt of Martyrdom by Sir John Suckling

An Ecstacy by Francis Quarles

On The Life And Death Of Man by Francis Quarles

No Platonic Love by William Cartwright

The Anniversary by John Donne

Air And Angels by John Donne

For Whom the Bell Tolls by John Donne

Church Monuments by George Herbert

To Her Body by Lord Edward Herbert of Cherbury

Vain Wits and Eyes by Henry Vaughan

Satan by Richard Crashaw

On the Baptized Ethiopian by Richard Crashaw

Denial by George Herbert

Elegy Over a Tomb by Lord Edward Herbert of Cherbury

A Burnt Ship by John Donne

The Scots Apostasie by John Cleveland

Death Be Not Proud by John Donne

The Calm by John Donne

The Relic by John Donne

The Expiration by John Donne

Nativity by John Donne

Faith by George Herbert

Virtue by George Herbert

Disclipine by George Herbert

Lips And Eyes by Thomas Carew

The Spring by Thomas Carew

Praise And Prayer by William Davenant

To A Mistress Dying by William Davenant

Ladies In Arms by William Davenant

Go, Lovely Rose by Edmund Waller

Paradise Lost (Extract from Book XII) by John Milton

On Shakespeare by John Milton

To The Memory Of My Dear And Ever Honoured Father Thomas Dudley Esq; Who Deceased, July 31. 1653 by Anne Bradstreet

Verses Upon The Burning Of Our House, July 10th, 1666 by Anne Bradstreet

To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell

Sweet Empty Sky Of June Without A Stain by Henry Vaughan

The Waterfall by Henry Vaughan

Peace by Henry Vaughan

Hymn To Light by Abraham Crowley

The Given Heart by Abraham Crowley

The Definition Of Love by Andrew Marvell

In Making Bodies Love Could Not Express by Thomas Traherne

A Life of Sabbaths Here Beneath by Thomas Traherne

Innocence by Thomas Traherne

The World by Katherine Phillips

Against Love by Katherine Phillips

On A Sunbeam by Thomas Heyrick

Upon His Picture by Thomas Randolph

An Elegy On Ben Jonson by John Cleveland

Who first reform'd our Stage with justest Lawes, 

And was the first best Judge in his owne Cause? 

Who (when his Actors trembled for Applause) 

Could (with a noble Confidence) preferre 

His owne, by right, to a whole Theater; 

From Principles which he knew could not erre. 

Who to his FABLE did his Persons fitt, 

With all the Properties of Art and Witt, 

And above all (that could bee Acted) writt. 

Who publique Follies did to covert drive, 

Which hee againe could cunningly retrive, 

Leaving them no ground to rest on, and thrive. 

Here JONSON lies, whom had I nam'd before 

In that one word alone, I had paid more 

Then can be now, when plentie makes me poore. 

The Rebel Scot by John Cleveland

How, Providence? and yet a Scottish crew?

Then Madam Nature wears black patches too!

What, shall our nation be in bondage thus

Unto a land that truckles under us?

Ring the bells backward! I am all on fire.

Not all the buckets in a country quire

Shall quench my rage. A poet should be feared

When angry, like a comet's flaming beard.

And where's the stoic can his wrath appease,

To see his country sick of Pym's disease? 

By Scotch invasion to be made a prey

To such pigwidgeon myrmidons as they?

But that there's charm in verse, I would not quote

The name of Scot without an antidote;

Unless my head were red, that I might brew

Invention there that might be poison too.

Were I a drowsy judge whose dismal note

Disgorgeth halters as a juggler's throat

Doth ribbons; could I in Sir Empiric's tone