History & Politics
Recollection of the Portrait of King Henry Eighth, Trinity Lodge, Cambridge
From Poetical Works, ed. Knight (1896), vol. VII
The imperial Stature, the colossal stride,
Are yet before me; yet do I behold
The broad full visage, chest of amplest mould,
The vestments 'broidered with barbaric pride:
And lo! a poniard, at the Monarch's side,
Hangs ready to be grasped in sympathy
With the keen threatenings of that fulgent eye,
Below the white-rimmed bonnet, far-descried.
Who trembles now at thy capricious mood?
'Mid those surrounding Worthies, haughty King,
We rather think, with grateful mind sedate,
How Providence educeth, from the spring
Of lawless will, unlooked-for streams of good,
Which neither force shall check nor time abate!
Cite this poem
MLA
Wordsworth, William. “Recollection of the Portrait of King Henry Eighth, Trinity Lodge, Cambridge.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/592/.
Chicago
Wordsworth, William. “Recollection of the Portrait of King Henry Eighth, Trinity Lodge, Cambridge.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wordsworth/592/.
Read this poem with the Codex →