by Keats · Cluster: Heroism · Hero · Last Stand
Abstract
Sonnet hymning the Polish patriot-hero Kosciusko, joining his name with Alfred’s as everlasting heroic music; heroism, liberty and the immortality of great names.
Connections
Archetypes: Hero Themes & Concepts: Heroism, Immortality Forms & Genres: Sonnet Historical References: King Alfred
Testo integrale / Full text
Good Kosciusko, thy great name alone
Is a full harvest whence to reap high feeling;
It comes upon us like the glorious pealing
Of the wide spheres — an everlasting tone.
And now it tells me, that in worlds unknown,
The names of heroes, burst from clouds concealing,
And changed to harmonies, for ever stealing
Through cloudless blue, and round each silver throne.
It tells me too, that on a happy day,
When some good spirit walks upon the earth,
Thy name with Alfred’s, and the great of yore
Gently commingling, gives tremendous birth
To a loud hymn, that sounds far, far away
To where the great God lives for evermore.