Character of the Duke of Monmouth

By John Dryden (1631–1700)

From “Absalom and Achitophel”

EARLY in foreign fields he won renown,

With kings and states allied to Israel’s crown:

In peace the thoughts of war he could remove,

And seemed as he were only born for love.

Whate’er he did was done with so much ease,

In him alone ’twas natural to please;

His motions all accompanied with grace;

And paradise was opened in his face.