Analysis of Epitaph on the Monument of the Marquis of Winchester

John Dryden 1631 (Aldwincle) – 1631 (London)



He who, in impious times, undaunted stood,
And 'midst rebellion durst be just and good;
Whose arms asserted, and whose sufferings more
Confirmed the cause for which he fought before,
Rests here, rewarded by an heavenly prince,
For what his earthly could not recompence.
Pray, reader, that such times no more appear;
Or, if they happen, learn true honour here.
Ark of this age's faith and loyalty,
Which, to preserve them, heaven confined in thee.
Few subjects could a king like thine deserve;
And fewer, such a king so well could serve.
Blest king, blest subject, whose exalted state
By sufferings rose, and gave the law to fate!
Such souls are rare, but mighty patterns given
To earth, were meant for ornaments to heaven.


Scheme AABBCCDEFFGGHHII
Poetic Form
Metre 11001010101 0101011101 11010011001 0101111101 11010111001 11110111 1101111101 111101111 1111010100 11011100101 1101011101 0101011111 1110110101 11001010111 11111101010 11011100110
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 730
Words 126
Sentences 7
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 16
Lines Amount 16
Letters per line (avg) 36
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 568
Words per stanza (avg) 124
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

38 sec read
101

John Dryden

John Dryden was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made Poet Laureate in 1668. more…

All John Dryden poems | John Dryden Books

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