The Vintage to the Dungeon – a poem by Richard Lovelace

I.

Sing out, pent soules, sing cheerefully!

Care shackles you in liberty:

Mirth frees you in captivity.

Would you double fetters adde?

Else why so sadde?

Chorus

Besides your pinion’d armes youl finde

Griefe too can manakell the minde.

II.

Live then, pris’ners, uncontrol’d;

Drink oth’ strong, the rich, the old,

Till wine too hath your wits in hold;

Then if still your jollitie

And throats are free-

Chorus

Tryumph in your bonds and paines,

And daunce to the music of your chaines.

x

Lovelace is perceptive. As a poet, it is no good just protesting about your grievance. However horrific the abuse you may be wishing to tell us about, there has to be a music to the telling.

See also Richard Lovelace