The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.
Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill;
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still:
Early or late,
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath,
When they, pale captives, creep to death.
The garlands wither on your brow,
Then boast no more your mighty deeds;
Upon Death's purple altar now,
See, where the victor-victim bleeds:
Your heads must come
To the cold tomb,
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.
James Shirley's "Song from 'Ajax and Ulysses'" stands as a masterful meditation on mortality, power, and the ultimate equality of all humans before death. Written in the Caroline era, this poem exemplifies the metaphysical poets' preoccupation with mortality while incorporating classical allusions and the political tensions of 17th century England. Through its intricate imagery and carefully constructed stanzas, Shirley crafts a memento mori that resonates beyond its historical context to speak universal truths about human existence and the futility of worldly power.
Composed during a period of mounting political tension that would eventually lead to the English Civil War, Shirley's poem can be read as both a philosophical meditation and a pointed commentary on the precarious nature of temporal authority. The mention of "kings" and "sceptre and crown" takes on particular significance when we consider that this work emerged in an era when the divine right of kings was being actively challenged. Shirley, who would later become a royalist supporter, creates a work that paradoxically both undermines and transcends political allegiances through its emphasis on death as the great equalizer.
The poem's structure reflects its thematic concerns through a careful arrangement of three eight-line stanzas, each following a consistent rhyme scheme (ababccdd). This architectural precision creates a sense of inevitability that mirrors the poem's central theme of death's inexorable approach. Each stanza follows a pattern where the first four lines present a broader philosophical statement, followed by four lines that narrow to a more specific image or conclusion. The shorter lines (lines 5-6 in each stanza) create a rhythmic collapse that mimics the "tumbling down" of worldly power described in the poem.
Shirley's masterful use of imagery begins with the abstract concept of "glories of our blood and state" being transformed into "shadows," immediately establishing the poem's central metaphysical concern with the insubstantial nature of worldly power. The progression of imagery throughout the poem moves from the general to the specific, from the abstract to the concrete, and from the living to the dead.
The agricultural imagery in the second stanza—"swords may reap the field" and "plant fresh laurels"—creates a bitter irony by conflating creation and destruction. The imagery of cultivation is perverted into imagery of warfare, suggesting that even humanity's most noble achievements are rooted in violence and ultimately fade to nothing.
The poem's title reference to Ajax and Ulysses immediately places it within the classical tradition, evoking the tragic fate of Ajax and the cunning of Ulysses from Greek mythology. This framing device suggests that even the greatest heroes of antiquity are subject to death's dominion. The phrase "purple altar" in the final stanza combines classical sacrifice imagery with Christian concepts of martyrdom, creating a rich tapestry of religious and mythological significance.
Perhaps the most striking turn in the poem comes in its final lines, where Shirley introduces a moral dimension that seems to offer the only possible transcendence of death: "Only the actions of the just / Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust." This conclusion creates a fascinating tension with the poem's earlier insistence on death's universal equality. The suggestion that virtue creates a kind of immortality through remembrance adds a complex layer to the poem's otherwise stark message about mortality.
Shirley's diction is particularly noteworthy for its combination of the elevated and the mundane. The juxtaposition of "sceptre and crown" with "poor crooked scythe and spade" creates a linguistic leveling that reinforces the poem's thematic concerns. The use of words like "tumble," "stoop," and "creep" creates a downward movement throughout the poem that emphasizes humanity's inevitable descent into death.
While Shirley is not typically classified as a metaphysical poet, this poem shows clear influence from that tradition. The complex conceits, the preoccupation with death, and the philosophical wrestling with mortality all align with metaphysical concerns. The poem's exploration of the relationship between the physical and the spiritual, particularly in its final stanza, demonstrates sophisticated metaphysical thinking.
Reading the poem in its historical context, we cannot ignore its political implications. Written in an era of increasing political instability, the poem's emphasis on the temporary nature of power can be read as both a warning to those in authority and a comfort to those who suffer under it. The image of crowns and scepters tumbling down would have had particular resonance for contemporary readers.
Shirley's poem achieves its power through its combination of philosophical depth, political relevance, and poetic craftsmanship. While its message about death's universality is not unique, the precision of its imagery, the complexity of its allusions, and the beauty of its construction elevate it beyond mere memento mori to create a work that continues to resonate with readers across centuries. The poem's final assertion about the endurance of just actions provides a crucial moral dimension that transforms what might have been merely a poem about death into a more complex meditation on how to live.
Through its careful construction and profound insights, "Song from 'Ajax and Ulysses'" stands as a masterpiece of 17th-century English poetry, one that deserves continued close reading and analysis. Its themes of mortality, power, and justice remain startlingly relevant to contemporary readers, while its artistic achievements continue to reward careful study and analysis.