Famous Heroic Couplet Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Heroic Couplet poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous heroic couplet poems. These examples illustrate what a famous heroic couplet poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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Excerpt from The Aeneid

...Soon had their hosts in bloody battle join'd;
But westward to the sea the sun declin'd.
Intrench'd before the town both armies lie,
While Night with sable wings involves the sky....Read more of this...
by Virgil,


Excerpt from The Canterbury Tales

...She was a worthy woman Al hir life
Housebondes at church Dore she hadde five...Read more of this...
by Chaucer, Geoffrey

Heroic Couplet Passage from Cooper's Hill

...O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream
My great example, as it is my theme!
Though deep yet clear, though gentle yet not dull;
Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full....Read more of this...
by Denham, John

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 1

...Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos;
Sedjuvat, hoc precibus me tribuisse tuis.
(Martial, Epigrams 12.84)
What dire offence from am'rous causes springs, 
What mighty contests rise from trivial things,
I sing--This verse to Caryl, Muse! is due:
This, ev'n Belinda may vouchsafe to view:
Slight is the subject, but not so the praise,
If she inspire...Read more of this...
by Pope, Alexander

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 2

...Not with more glories, in th' etherial plain, 
The sun first rises o'er the purpled main,
Than, issuing forth, the rival of his beams
Launch'd on the bosom of the silver Thames.
Fair nymphs, and well-dress'd youths around her shone,
But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone.
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore,
Which Jews might kiss, and infid...Read more of this...
by Pope, Alexander


The Rape of the Lock: Canto 3

...Close by those meads, for ever crown'd with flow'rs, 
Where Thames with pride surveys his rising tow'rs,
There stands a structure of majestic frame,
Which from the neighb'ring Hampton takes its name.
Here Britain's statesmen oft the fall foredoom
Of foreign tyrants and of nymphs at home;
Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,
Dost sometimes ...Read more of this...
by Pope, Alexander

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 4

...But anxious cares the pensive nymph oppress'd, 
And secret passions labour'd in her breast.
Not youthful kings in battle seiz'd alive,
Not scornful virgins who their charms survive,
Not ardent lovers robb'd of all their bliss,
Not ancient ladies when refus'd a kiss,
Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die,
Not Cynthia when her manteau's pinn'd awry,...Read more of this...
by Pope, Alexander

The Rape of the Lock: Canto 5

...She said: the pitying audience melt in tears, 
But Fate and Jove had stopp'd the Baron's ears.
In vain Thalestris with reproach assails,
For who can move when fair Belinda fails?
Not half so fix'd the Trojan could remain,
While Anna begg'd and Dido rag'd in vain.
Then grave Clarissa graceful wav'd her fan;
Silence ensu'd, and thus the nymph began.
...Read more of this...
by Pope, Alexander

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