An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland

by Andrew Marvell

Genres: Poetry, Literature, Classics

4 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1650

About the author

Frequently satirical work of English metaphysical poet Andrew Marvell includes "To His Coy Mistress" and "The Definition of Love," both published posthumously.

A clergyman fathered Andrew Marvell, a parliamentarian. John Donne and George Herbert associated him. He befriended John Milton, a colleague.

The family moved to Hull, where people appointed his father as lecturer at church of Holy Trinity, and where grammar school educated the young Marvell. A secondary school in the city is now named after him.

He most famously composed The Garden , An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland , and the Country House Poem , Upon Appleton House .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_...

Reviews

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

There has been a lot of critical dialogue of this poem. Some critics have taken the view that it is a compliment to Cromwell, while others identify the fact that Charles too has received his due.

Some analysts find Marvell blameworthy of adopting a double-edged approach to the extent that the poem, allegedly a panegyric in honour of Cromwell, also brings into spotlight the King’s poise and daring.

The fact is that Marvell has tried to uphold symmetry between the two men, drawing our attention to the good qualities of both. While Cromwell does come out as the genuine champion in the poem, he does not escape Marvell’s sarcasm in certain lines.

In this poem references are made not only to Cromwell’s conquest over Ireland and his expected assault of Scotland, but also to his divergence with King Charles I and his conquest over the King leading to the King’s capital punishment.

As the title itself shows, the poem is an “occasional” verse because it was written on a scrupulous occasion, explicitly, the return of Cromwell from Ireland after a triumph. It may be pointed out that while the poem does have a certain historical value and must greatly have interested Marvell’s contemporaries, it does not have much interest for the reader of today.

Cromwell is praised for his proposal in having deserted his life of reserve and severity, and having plunged into a daring conflict. His were “the deepest scars” in the Civil War.

He not only defeated the King but also won a victory over the Irish thus putting them to disgrace. The Irish people themselves recognized that Cromwell was “good”, “just”, and “fit for the highest trust”.

In this connection, Marvell writes:

So much one man can do,
That does both act and know.

Cromwell is next praised for continuing to obey the House of Commons and to give to the Commons the credit for his own victories.

Cromwell is then compared to Caesar and Hannibal. However, there is irony in the lines in which the flight of Charles from Hampton Court is referred to.

In these lines the author is indirectly accusing Cromwell of slyness and deception:

And Hampton shows what part
He had of wiser art:
Where, twining subtle fears with hope,
He wove a net of such a scope,
That Charles himself might chase
To Carisbrooke’S narrow case.

Marvell has given due eulogy to King Charles for the intrepid manner in which the King faced death. Marvell does not refer to any of the King’s errors, not even those which historians have stressed.

Marvell concentrates his consideration to the outstanding scene of the King’s execution and, in this relation, dwells upon the King’s bravery and self-respect.

The King did nothing “common or mean”, but with his sharp eyes tried to judge the degree of the sharpness of the executioner’s axe. Nor did the King invoke the help of the gods. He “bowed his comely head down, as upon a bed”. Marvell succeeds in arousing our pity for the King in spite of the fact that he has glorified the King’s enemy (Cromwell).

There are a number of allegorical lines in the poem which serve to either emphasize an idea or to make it clearer. Thus Cromwell is compared to the “three-forked lightning” which breaks the clouds where it was nursed. This simile is developed into a metaphysical conceit when we are told that Cromwell went burning through the air and that it is insanity to oppose or charge the force of angry Heaven’s flame.

There is an arresting simile when Cromwell is compared to a falcon which, regardless of its ferocity, obeys its trainer or owner.

The image of the Scots shrinking from Cromwell in dread is also presented through metaphoric language. All these similes and images create theatrical insinuations.

This poem was written in June-July, 1650 after Cromwell had won a victory over Ireland in May, 1650 and was expected to invade Scotland (the country he entered on the 22nd July, 1650). General Fairfax had resigned his post in mid-June as Commander-in-Chief of the Parliamentary forces, and Cromwell was then promoted to that position.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Year 2, Semester 2 Module Jonson to Johnson

[grace florence · Rating 3 out of 5]

ate if it was about anyone else...

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

'An Horatian Ode upon Cromwell’s Return from Ireland', a political critique that concludes with: "The same arts that did gain / A pow’r, must it maintain."

[Ananya Ghosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I had no idea that old poetry like this existed on goodreads to be rated!
I read it for the last semester and it was a good one, I actually have a goldfish's memory and have forgotten most of it.