He is exonerated for the violence and destruction of his campaigns because he is the instrument of divine wrath, but he is also given credit for character, courage, and craftiness:
'Tis Madness to resist or blame
The force of angry Heavens flame:
And, if we would speak true,
Much to the Man is due. (Online 5)
It must be realized that there are considerable differences between the metaphysical poets described above: differences in talent, and differences in the extent to which the various characteristics appear in the works of each poet. It also should be remembered that what is described as the ‘Metaphysical poetry’ involves a considerable period of time and great social, cultural and intellectual changes, as well as a number of individual personalities and talents. These poets experienced, and contributed to, the culture and events which constitute the spirit of the turbulent era in which they lived. They managed to join sin with faith, erotic pleasures with religion, body with mind, and passion with logic.
All of these poets have left remarkable contribution to the English poetry; although, their poetry were out of critical favour for the 18th and 19th centuries (probably because of the Romantic poets found little in this heavily intellectualized poetry). At the end of the 19th century and in the beginning of the 20th century, interest in this group of poets was renewed.
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