"Such are mine; and such shall be "Thine, to-morrow, when with me: "Ere the coming day is done, "Such shalt thou be, such thy son. "Fare thee well, but for a day; "Then we mix our mouldering clay. "Thou, thy race, lie pale and low, "Pierced by shafts of many a bow; "And the falchion by thy side "To thy heart, thy hand shall guide : "Crownless, breathless, headless fall, "Son and sire, the house of Saul!" N2 "ALL IS VANITY, SAITH THE PREACHER." I. FAME, wisdom, love, and power were mine, And health and youth possessed me; My goblets blushed from every vine, And lovely forms caressed me; I sunned my heart in beauty's eyes, All earth can give, or mortal prize, II. I strive to number o'er what days Remembrance can discover, Which all that life or earth displays There rose no day, there rolled no hour Of pleasure unembittered; And not a trapping decked my power That galled not while it glittered. ΠΙ. The serpent of the field, by art And spells, is won from harming; But that which coils around the heart, Oh! who hath power of charming? It will not list to wisdom's lore, Nor music's voice can lure it; But there it stings for evermore The soul that must endure it. WHEN COLDNESS WRAPS THIS SUFFER ING CLAY. I. WHEN COLDNESS WRAPS THIS SUFFERING CLAY, Ah, whither strays the immortal mind? It cannot die, it cannot stay, But leaves its darkened dust behind. Then, unembodied, doth it trace By steps each planet's heavenly way? Or fill at once the realms of space, A thing of eyes, that all survey? |