I. As on his death-bed gasping Strephon lay, Strephon the wonder of the plains, The noblest of th' Arcadian swains; Strephon the bold, the witty, and the gay: With many a sigh and many a tear he said, Remember me, ye Shepherds, when I'm dead. II. Ye trifling glories of this world, adieu, And vain applauses of the age; For when we quit this earthly stage, Believe me, shepherds, for I tell you true; Those pleasures which from virtuous deeds we have, Procure the sweetest slumbers in the grave. III. Then since your fatal hour must surely come, Surely your heads lie low as mine, Your bright meridian sun decline; Beseech the mighty Pan to guard you home, If to Elysium you would happy fly, Live not like Strephon, but like Strephon die. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EPITAPH by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE THE CHOIR INVISIBLE by MARY ANN EVANS MILLS OF DESTINY by EVA K. ANGLESBURG FROM POOLS OF DEEPER THOUGHT by MAUDE HARDY ARNOLD A PASSSGE TO ITALY by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE KISS by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE ODE UPON OCCASION OF A COPY OF VERSES OF MY LORD BROGHILL'S by ABRAHAM COWLEY |