John Dryden

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he read more

Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain:
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain.

Behold him setting in his western skies,
The shadows lengthening as the vapours rise.

Behold him setting in his western skies,
The shadows lengthening as the vapours rise.

Drawn to the dregs of a democracy.

Drawn to the dregs of a democracy.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the radiant sun,
Is Nature's eye.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the radiant sun,
Is Nature's eye.

Such subtle covenants shall be made,
Till peace itself is war in masquerade.

Such subtle covenants shall be made,
Till peace itself is war in masquerade.