Euonymos

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Title:     Euonymos
Author: Algernon Charles Swinburne [More Titles by Swinburne]

[Greek: eu men he timen edidou nikephoros alke
ek nikes onom' esche phobou kear aien athiktos.]

A year ago red wrath and keen despair
Spake, and the sole word from their darkness sent
Laid low the lord not all omnipotent
Who stood most like a god of all that were
As gods for pride of power, till fire and air
Made earth of all his godhead. Lightning rent
The heart of empire's lurid firmament,
And laid the mortal core of manhood bare.
But when the calm crowned head that all revere
For valour higher than that which casts out fear,
Since fear came near it never, comes near death,
Blind murder cowers before it, knowing that here
No braver soul drew bright and queenly breath
Since England wept upon Elizabeth.

_March 8, 1882._

[The end]
Algernon Charles Swinburne's poem: Euonymos [sonnet]

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