Patriotism and Pals
.. Francis Bacon, author of two
.. early English essays on friendship,
…………………..played a major legal role
…………in the trial of his friend, the Earl of Essex,
……….. helping to get him beheaded after he had
……….mucked up the campaign in Ireland and had
……………attempted to overthrow Elizabeth I.
Elizabethans had this teenage notion
That giant nebulosities of love
(Read: Friendship) could exist like an Ocean
Sea, not just between two men, but far above
Male mortal pairings. For example, they
Could all devote themselves to Virgin Queen
(On earth, in heaven) and pretend to play
At masculine affection (as between
Two knights) while simultaneously, in bands
With slews of other guys (bowing fealty,
The lot of ’em) they’d chop off each others’ hands
And heads over a parcel of realty.
..Thus they believed in Friendship’s wider might
…..And all sorts of other high-minded shite.