Monday, September 27, 2010

Armour


Robert Harington, 1558

Get you, with your almain rivetts (lastest
fad from Germany), and your corselet,
and your two coats of plate! How much harness

does a man need? None, when he's in his grave.
Your sons may have it, together with your
damask and satin gowns to show off in;

while you go to lie down in Witham church,
and the most armour I've seen in a will
rusts or turns ridiculous in this world.

by Fleur Adcock (from the Times Lit Supp)

Confession: The portrait is not Robert Harington. The portrait is a Spaniard of the same century (with extravagant armour of his own) who seemed to me to look right for the poem.