IF there were aught in Verse at once could raise Or tender pity or immortal praise, Thine obsequies, brave Sandwich, would require Whatever would our nobler thoughts inspire; But since thou find'st by thy unhappy fate, What 'tis to be unfortunately great, And purchase Honour at too dear a rate: The Muse's best attempt, howe'er design'd, Cannot but prove impertinently kind, Thy glorious valour is a theme too high For all the humble arts of Poesy. To side with chance and kingdoms overrun Are little things ambitious men have done; But on a flaming ship thus to despise That life, which others did so highly prize; To fight with fire, and struggle with a wave, And Neptune with unwearied arms outbrave, Are deeds surpassing fab'lous chronicle, And which no future age shall parallel; Leviathan himself's outdone by thee, Thou greater @3wonder of the deep@1, than he: Nor could the deep thy mighty ashes hold, The deep that swallows diamonds and gold; Fame ev'n thy sacred relics does pursue, Richer than all the treasures of Peru: While the kind sea thy breathless body brings Safe to the bed of honour and of kings. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HIPPOLYTUS TEMPORIZES by HILDA DOOLITTLE BLIND by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE THE STEAM-ENGINE: CANTO 10. THE DEATH OF HUSKISSON by T. BAKER WINTER NIGHTFALL by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES BEYOND THE SUNSET by HENRY CHAPPELL THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON |