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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE DEATH OF MY DEAR BROTHER, MR. H.S., DROWNED: THE TEMPERS by WILLIAM HAMMOND

First Line: THE ELEMENTS, THAT DO MAN'S HOUSE COMPOSE
Last Line: SURPRIS'D HIS OPEN HEART.
Subject(s): DEATH; SANDYS, HENRY; DEAD, THE;
THE elements, that do man's house compose,
Are all his chiefest foes;
Fire, air, earth, water, all are at debate,
Which shall predominate.
Sometimes the tyrant Fire in fevers raves,
And brings us to our graves;
Sometimes the Air in whirling of our brains,
And windy colics, reigns;
Now Earth with melancholy man invades,
Making us walking shades;
Now Water in salt rheums works our decay,
And dropsies quench our day.
But this war equal was in him; the fight,
Harmony and delight,
Till treacherous Thames, taking the water's part,
Surpris'd his open heart.



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