Percy Bysshe Shelley
Men of England, wherefore plough
For the lords who lay ye low?
Wherefore weave with toil and care
The rich robes your tyrants wear?
Wherefore feed and clothe and save
From the cradle to the grave
Those ungrateful drones who would
Drain your sweat—nay, drink your blood?
Wherefore, Bees of England, forge
Many a weapon, chain, and scourge,
That these stingless drones may spoil
The forced produce of your toil?
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?
The seed ye sow, another reaps;
The wealth ye find, another keeps;
The robes ye weave, another wears;
The arms ye forge, another bears.
Sow seed—but let no tyrant reap:
Find wealth—let no imposter heap:
Weave robes—let not the idle wear:
Forge arms—in your defence to bear.
Shrink to your cellars, holes, and cells—
In hall ye deck another dwells.
Why shake the chains ye wrought? Ye see
The steel ye tempered glance on ye.
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.
"Song: To the Men of England" could be considered as a revolutionary poem. The vast majority of England are working for tyrants who are like drone bees, living off the the hard work of the working people. Shelley tries to call to attention that the tyrants of England are reaping all of the benefits that the working class should be receiving. Shelley's initial tone is condescending toward the working class and accused them of being cowards for not standing up against the upper class. His tone then turns almost pompous as he dares the people to do what is right and take action. It's safe to assume that Shelley is daring his people to be more like the French who were capable of creating their own revolution.
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