Richard Lovelace (
1618 -
1657)
English poet and
nobleman. He was imprisoned briefly in
1642 for supporting the
Royalists[?] during the time of
Oliver Cromwell.
While in prison, Lovelace wrote the words for which he is perhaps most famous:
- Stone walls do not a prison make,
- Nor iron bars a cage;
- Minds innocent and quiet take
- That for an hermitage;
- If I have freedom in my love,
- And in my soul am free,
- Angels alone, that soar above,
- Enjoy such liberty.
from "To Althea. From Prison".
- the e-texts of Richard Lovelace's The Lucasta Poems (http://www.abacci.com/books/book.asp?bookID=1217)