End of the Civil War

William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

From “King Richard III.,” Act I. Sc. 1.

NOW is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by this sun of York,

And all the clouds that lowered upon our house

In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;

Our bruisèd arms hung up for monuments;

Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,

Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.

Grim-visaged War hath smoothed his wrinkled front;

And now, instead of mounting barbèd steeds

To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,

He capers nimbly in a lady’s chamber,

To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.