Analysis of AN ELEGY Upon the death of Mr. Edward Holt

Henry King 1592 (Worminghall, Buckinghamshire) – 1669 (Chichester)



VVhether thy Fathers, or diseases rage,
More mortal prov'd to thy unhappy age,
Our sorrow needs not question; since the first
Is known for length and sharpness much the worst.
Thy Feaver yet was kind; which the ninth day
For thy misfortunes made an easie way.
When th' other barbarous and Hectick fit,
In nineteen winters did not intermit.
I therefore vainly now not ask thee why
Thou didst so soon in thy Youths mid-way dy:
But in my sence the greater wonder make
Thy long oppressed heart no sooner brake.
Of force must the neglected blossom fall
When the tough root becomes unnaturall,
And to his branches doth that sap deny,
Which them with life and verdure should supply.
For Parents shame, let it forgotten be,
And may the sad example die with thee.
It is not now thy grieved friends intent
To render thee dull Pities argument.
Thou hast a bolder title unto fame,
And at Edge-Hill thou didst make good the claime;
When in thy Royal Masters Cause and Warre
Thy ventur'd life brought off a noble skarre.
Nor did thy faithful services desist
Till death untimely strook thee from the List.
Though in that prouder vault then, which doth tomb
Thy ancestors, thy body find not room,
Thine own deserts have purchas'd thee a place,
Which more renowned is then all thy race;
For in this earth thou dost ennobled ly
With marks of Valour and of Loyalty.


Scheme AABBCCDBEBFFGGEEHHIJKKLLMMNNOOEH
Poetic Form
Metre 111010101 1101110101 10101110101 1111010101 111111011 110101111 11110100011 01110111 111011111 1111011111 1011010101 110111101 1110010101 1011011 0111011101 111101101 1101110101 0101010111 111111101 110111100 1101010101 0111111101 1011010101 1101110101 1111010001 1101011101 1011011111 110110111 1110110101 110111111 1011110101 111101100
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,354
Words 244
Sentences 11
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 32
Lines Amount 32
Letters per line (avg) 33
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 1,071
Words per stanza (avg) 242
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:14 min read
33

Henry King

Henry King was an English poet who served as Bishop of Chichester. more…

All Henry King poems | Henry King Books

0 fans

Discuss this Henry King poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "AN ELEGY Upon the death of Mr. Edward Holt" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/17630/an-elegy-upon-the-death-of-mr.-edward-holt>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    18
    days
    13
    hours
    40
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    AA Milne wrote: "A bear, however hard he tries..."
    A "grows tubby with no exercise"
    B "can never stop telling lies"
    C "has very very tired eyes"
    D "stinks and attracts the flies"