When I was a child, one of my favourite books was Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat. I must confess that from the age of eight I was firmly on the side of the dashing Cavaliers and Charles 1; and in many respects, I still am to this day!
So, whilst I am preparing an account of why he came to such a sticky end, and extolling the virtues of Oliver Cromwell, you might enjoy this poem by one of the “Cavalier Poets”, Richard Lovelace, set to music by Fairport Convention.
To Althea, From Prison
Richard Lovelace 1642
When love with unconfined wings
Hovers within my gates;
And my divine ALTHEA brings
To whisper at the grates;
When I lye tangled in her haire,
And fetterd to her eye,
The birds, that wanton in the aire,
Know no such liberty.
When flowing cups run swiftly round
With no allaying THAMES,
Our carelesse heads with roses bound,
Our hearts with loyal flames;
When thirsty griefe in wine we steepe,
When healths and draughts go free,
Fishes, that tipple in the deepe,
Know no such libertie.
When (like committed linnets) I
With shriller throat shall sing
The sweetnes, mercy, majesty,
And glories of my King.
When I shall voyce aloud, how good
He is, how great should be,
Inlarged winds, that curle the flood,
Know no such liberty.
Stone walls doe not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Mindes innocent and quiet take
That for an hermitage;
If I have freedome in my love,
And in my soule am free,
Angels alone that sore above
Enjoy such liberty.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Are there many Roundhead poets, Araminta?
Yes, the first who springs to mind, Sheona is Milton; John Dryden was one too!
Marvell is another, Sheona. I’m sure there are quite a few more though, but my brain hurts. 😦
A great group, Fairport Convention, but in this instance their mock-Irish accompaniment and their distortions (in stress, phrasing and occasional words) of Lovelace’s famous poem, have trivialised something profound into bland vox pop (if you’ll excuse the pun). What a shame. 😦
I thought it was great, Bearsy and very well done re stress, phrasing etc. Oh well!
Twas but my opinion …
No problem, but you are right about the poem, it is beautifully written, and much quoted.
Beautiful poem, Ara.
Funny that you should mention CHildren of the New Forest; I was looking at a copy of it at my mum’s house last weekend. I was made to read it, by her, when I was little, like Swallows and Amazons, and did not enjoy it. Now I think I might read it again.
Milton is the best of the parliamentarian poets, in my view.
I still have my copy of Children of the New Forest, and Swallows and Amazons, Claire, and I made my children read them too! I can’t actually remember if they enjoyed them though.
I think Milton is probably the greatest of the lot. I’ve just been reading the Dryden poem on the death of Oliver Cromwell, and it’s a bit OTT.
I certainly did.
Never heard of it or him, I assume this where ‘stone walls do not a prison make’ comes from?
I particularly enjoyed listening to the poem after having read it and your brief ‘scene setting’ in your opening paragraph, thanks, more please!
Thank you, Soutie.
I’m pleased you enjoyed it. Your assumption is quite correct. I doubt there are many who haven’t quoted this line or read it somewhere. The freedom of the human mind or spirit is an age old theme but these lines have lasted, and deservedly so.