The Harp of Erin Containing the Poetical Works of the Late Thomas Dermody. In Two Volumes |
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 | The Harp of Erin |  |
What then is Man? why born? why born to die,
Doom'd a vile worm to crawl, a seraph fly?
Did strong necessity enforce his birth,
Does Heav'n repose upon the child of earth!
Hangs there, of sympathy, a social claim,
By angels shar'd, to raise him up again?
Or, quickly mould'ring in congenial clay,
Are all the vital traces worn away?
Is God offended with his moulded dust?
Can he forgive a sin, for he is just?
Can he condemn the faults of flesh and blood,
By his own hand instill'd? for he is good.
Can he destroy, when, trick'd in specious guise,
Vice undermines the breast? for he is wise.
These dark enigmas, this important spell,
Unerring oracle of reason tell!
For surely, purest essence, thou dost know
If folly is not all our sense below!
Say, should the mortal lord exalt his slave,
Grace him with gifts, then plunge him in the grave?
Would'st thou not, gracious spirit, curse the deed,
And bid the victor with the victim bleed?
Doom'd a vile worm to crawl, a seraph fly?
Did strong necessity enforce his birth,
Does Heav'n repose upon the child of earth!
Hangs there, of sympathy, a social claim,
By angels shar'd, to raise him up again?
Or, quickly mould'ring in congenial clay,
Are all the vital traces worn away?
Is God offended with his moulded dust?
Can he forgive a sin, for he is just?
Can he condemn the faults of flesh and blood,
By his own hand instill'd? for he is good.
Can he destroy, when, trick'd in specious guise,
Vice undermines the breast? for he is wise.
These dark enigmas, this important spell,
Unerring oracle of reason tell!
For surely, purest essence, thou dost know
If folly is not all our sense below!
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Grace him with gifts, then plunge him in the grave?
Would'st thou not, gracious spirit, curse the deed,
And bid the victor with the victim bleed?
| The Harp of Erin | |