Edmund Waller, FRS (3 March 1606 – 21 October 1687) was an English
poet
and politician
who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1624 and 1679.
Edmund Waller was the eldest son of Robert Waller of Coleshill
, Herts
, and Anne Hampden, his wife; thus he was first cousin to John Hampden
. He was descended from the Waller family of Groombridge Place
, Kent. Early in his childhood his father moved the family to Beaconsfield
.
Illustrious acts high raptures do infuse,And every conqueror creates a muse.
Guarded with ships, and all our sea our own.
To man, that was in th' evening made,Stars gave the first delight;Admiring, in the gloomy shade,Those little drops of light.
That which her slender waist confinedShall now my joyful temples bind;No monarch but would give his crownHis arms might do what this has done.
My joy, my grief, my hope, my love,Did all within this circle move!
Go, lovely rose!Tell her that wastes her time and meThat now she knows,When I resemble her to thee,How sweet and fair she seems to be.
How small a part of time they shareThat are so wondrous sweet and fair!
Poets that lasting marble seekMust come in Latin or in Greek.