Song To The Men Of England

Percy Bysshe Shelley * Track #69 On The Complete Poetical Works Of Percy Bysshe Shelley Volume 2

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Percy Bysshe Shelley

Song To The Men Of England by Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Percy Bysshe Shelley

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In “Song to the Men of England,” Shelley directly addresses the issue of labour exploitation, and the glaring contrast between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. He underscores the alienation of the working class, highlighting how they’ve become estranged from the concept of freedom under capitali...

Song To The Men Of England Annotated

[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 1st edition.]

1.
Men of England, wherefore plough
For the lords who lay ye low?
Wherefore weave with toil and care
The rich robes your tyrants wear?

2.
Wherefore feed, and clothe, and save,
From the cradle to the grave,
Those ungrateful drones who would
Drain your sweat—nay, drink your blood?

3.
Wherefore, Bees of England, forge
Many a weapon, chain, and scourge,
That these stingless drones may spoil
The forced produce of your toil?

4.
Have ye leisure, comfort, calm,
Shelter, food, love's gentle balm?
Or what is it ye buy so dear
With your pain and with your fear?

5.
The seed ye sow, another reaps;
The wealth ye find, another keeps;
The robes ye weave, another wears;
The arms ye forge; another bears.

6.
Sow seed,—but let no tyrant reap;
Find wealth,—let no impostor heap;
Weave robes,—let not the idle wear;
Forge arms,—in your defence to bear.

7.
Shrink to your cellars, holes, and cells;
In halls ye deck another dwells.
Why shake the chains ye wrought? Ye see
The steel ye tempered glance on ye.

8.
With plough and spade, and hoe and loom,
Trace your grave, and build your tomb,
And weave your winding-sheet, till fair
England be your sepulchre.

***

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