COME now–to the gates of that palace advance,
Built by Louis Eleventh, “the Nero of France;”
And tell how he suffered the pangs of remorse,
Ere death put an end to his profligate course.
Then to Puy-de-Dome turn: near an ancient town there,
(As travellers of merit and learning declare,)
If jewels you value, your eyes you may feast
On amethysts, beauteous as those of the east.
Nor the land of the Gaul quit, when these you’ve admir’d,
But haste, in the garments of mourning attir’d,
To pour forth your tribute of grief, though unheard,
Where the parents of Louis Sixteenth lie interred.
Next cross o’er to England, and rest in that town,
Near which stands a castle of ancient renown;
Where Edward (unknowing) rush’d on to his fate,
When asking for water he stopped at the gate.
Then, northward proceeding, search out for the ground.
Which adjoining to Kinetown, in Warwickshire’s found,
Where Charles First met his people in hostile array,
And where neither could claim the rewards of the day.
In the county of Derby, ’tis somewhere related
That Pope passed two summers, and Homer translated;
Then visit the spot since held sacred to lore,
And give for the present your wanderings o’er.
For you’ve travell’d enough to complete my design,
I now ask you to name the celestial sign,
In which Phoebus shines glorious that time of the year,
When the snow-drop just peeping, cries, “Sweet spring is near.”
(Elizabeth Hitchener)
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Based on Topics: Sadness Poems, Cry Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Spring Poems, Summer Poems, Grief Poems, Sign & Symbol Poems, Present Poems, Haste Poems, England Poems, Parents PoemsBased on Keywords: nero, travell, adjoining, gaul, interred, derby, snow-drop, amethysts, profligate, attir, warwickshire