Chapter 22 song for the british

song for the british Britons, the lords have oppressed you, Why even plow for them? Why pay for your care and hard work Weaving fine garments for tyrants? why, ungrateful drone Late in the grave, early in the birth, You depend on you for food, clothing, and life, and, Drink your sweat, no, suck your blood dry. British worker bees, why make Swords and whips, chains and shackles, Let the stingless drones plunder The harvest from your forced labor? Have you rest and peace, Love's consolation and lodging, food? You gave pain and fear, What did you get for this price? You sow, others reap;

You seek riches, others get them; You make garments, and others wear them; You make swords and guns, others hang them on their waists. Sow the seed, but keep the tyrant from reaping; Find wealth, and never allow liars to plunder; Weaves clothes, and never puts them on the lazy; Make knives and guns and become armed for self-defense. Indent your cellars and huts, Build a mansion for others to live in. Why break free from the chains you forged? Look at your hardened steel staring. Plows, shovels, hoes, looms Mark your graves, weave your shrouds, Make good graves for good England To be your coffin one day.

Translated by Huang Gaoxin This poem was written in the autumn of 1819.On August 16 this year, the United Kingdom Tens of thousands of Manchester citizens rallied to demand reform and universal suffrage, However, it was suppressed by the authorities and hundreds of people were killed or injured.far away in italy Shelley was filled with righteous indignation after hearing the news, and wrote down the poems including this poem. some works.Due to the generous words and intense tone of this poem, there are It is extremely combative, especially the last two quarters have a lot of Agitation, so for a long time, publishers did not dare to print.

When it was later published, Shelley had been dead for more than ten years.