Richard Lovelace
1618—1657
![Portrait of Richard Lovelace](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn-test.poetryfoundation.org/cdn-cgi/image/w=10,h=10,q=50,blur=3/content/images/b535413f2020d587c67af5c91d453496bf6f83ad.jpeg)
Like the other Cavalier poets of 17th-century England, Richard Lovelace lived a legendary life as a soldier, lover, and courtier. Persecuted for his unflagging support of King Charles I, he died in dire poverty — but not before writing two of the age’s most melodic and moving lyrics: “To Althea, from Prison” and “To Lucasta, Going to the Wars.”