Thy Days Are Done
Thy Days Are Done - context Summary
Address to the Duke of Wellington
Written in 1814 and believed to address the Duke of Wellington, the poem celebrates a recently fallen military leader as a national hero whose sacrifice secured freedom. Byron presents the dead commander as living on in popular songs, battle-cries, and the blood and spirit of the people. The tone is commemorative and martial, turning personal loss into public triumph and assuring that mourning would diminish, rather than honor, his fame.
Read Complete AnalysesThy days are done, thy fame begun; Thy country’s strains record The triumphs of her chosen Son, The slaughter of his sword! The deeds he did, the fields he won, The freedom he restored! Though thou art fall’n, while we are free Thou shalt not taste of death! The generous blood that flow’d from thee Disdain’d to sink beneath: Within our veins its currents be, Thy spirit on our breath! Thy name, our charging hosts along, Shall be the battle-word! Thy fall, the theme of choral song From virgin voices pour’d! To weep would do thy glory wrong: Thou shalt not be deplored.
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