Mark by what wretched steps Great grows, From dirt and sea-weed as proud Venice rose; One equal course how Guilt and Greatness ran, And all that rais'd the Hero sunk the Man. Now Europe's Lawrels on his brows behold, But stain'd with Blood, or ill exchang'd for Gold. What wonder tryumphs never turn'd his brain Fill'd with mean fear to lose mean joy to gain. Hence see him modest free from pride or shew Some Vices were too high but none too low Go then indulge thy age in Wealth and ease Stretch'd on the spoils of plunder'd palaces Alas what wealth, which no one act of fame E'er taught to shine, or sanctified from shame Alas what ease those furies of thy life Ambition Av'rice and th' imperious Wife. The trophy'd Arches, story'd Halls invade, And haunt his slumbers in the pompous Shade. No joy no pleasure from successes past Timid and therefore treacherous to the last Hear him in accents of a pining Ghost Sigh, with his Captive for his ofspring lost Behold him loaded with unreverend years Bath'd in unmeaning unrepentant tears Dead, by regardless Vet'rans born on high Dry pomps and obsequies without a sigh. Who now his fame or fortune shall prolong In vain his consort bribes for venal song No son nor Grandson shall the line sustain The husband toils the Adulterer sweats in vain: In vain a nations zeal a senate's cares 'Madness and lust' (said God) 'be you his heirs' 'O'er his vast heaps in drunkenness of pride Go wallow Harpyes and your prey divide' Alas! not dazled with his Noontide ray, Compute the Morn and Evening of his Day: The whole amount of that enormous Fame A Tale! that blends the Glory with the Shame! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...APOLLO AT LAX by KAREN SWENSON THE DANCE OF THE SEVIN DEIDLY SYNNIS by WILLIAM DUNBAR LOVE AND A QUESTION by ROBERT FROST THE DEPARTED by JOHN BANISTER TABB THE RAZOR-SELLER by JOHN WOLCOTT ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 6. HYMN TO CHEERFULNESS by MARK AKENSIDE THE MARCH OF XERXES by LUIGI ALAMANNI |