"On the 3. of September, 1651"
By
Philips Katherine
Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Staff and Research Assistants at The University of Virginia, John O'Brien, Sara Brunstetter, Rachel Retica
SeptemberOn September 3rd, 1651, Oliver Cromwell and his men
defeated Charles II and the Royalists in the battle of Worcester, the last
major battle of the English Civil War.MagazineA storehouse
or repository. In military use, a storeroom for arms and explosives
(Oxford English Dictionary).Brave To defy (Oxford English
Dictionary).Checkto stop sharply (Oxford
English Dictionary)Anti-PersiansPersians had the reputation of being
sun-worshippers. Anti-Persians, therefore, would be anti-sun, depicted
here as though they were rooting for it to set (Encyclopedia Britannica).
PeriodAn end, a conclusion; the point of
completion of a process (OED).PompeyPompey, a Roman statesman and general,
was a popular figure in literature for his spectacular fall from power.
After Caesar defeated him in the Battle of Pharsalus, concluding the
civil war, Pompey fled to Egypt, where he was assassinated by Lucius
Septimius, his former colleague.SampsonIn the Bible, Sampson ("man of the sun"), a Judge of
the ancient Israelites and blessed with superhuman strength, was taken
captive and tortured by the Philistines after Delilah betrayed him. He
took his revenge during a well-attended sacrifice, when he was summoned
to give a performance and instead destroyed the temple's columns,
killing himself and all of the Philistines within.nAirWho survives on
nothing or who has false hope.DiademsCrowns (Oxford
English Dictionary).
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On the 3. of September, 1651SeptemberSeptemberOn September 3rd, 1651, Oliver Cromwell and his men
defeated Charles II and the Royalists in the battle of Worcester, the last
major battle of the English Civil War.
1As when the glorious MagazineMagazineMagazineA storehouse
or repository. In military use, a storeroom for arms and explosives
(Oxford English Dictionary). of Light
2Approches to his Canopy of Night
3He with the new splendour clothes his dying Rays,
4And double brightness to his Beams conveys;
5And (as to braveBraveBrave To defy (Oxford English
Dictionary). and checkCheckCheckto stop sharply (Oxford
English Dictionary) his ending fate)
6Puts on his highest look in's lowest state,