 | My Sonnets |  |
11
ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
Did the Gymnosophist, who laughed to scornThe greatness of the mighty victor, speak
True wisdom, when he told the conquering Greek,
Glory was but a dream; that his fame, torn
From death, 'mid warring hosts, which he had gone
Through the far East, down trampling the weak,
The tottering thrones of Asia, but to seek,
And grasping it alone, doomed earth to mourn
A thousand happy hearths made desolate;
That this, and that all fame, the truly wise
Held worthless as the pomp of kingly state:
That man true greatness even should despise?
No! though vain all, that we most thirst for, seem,
Let us dream on, if it be sweet to dream.
November 18th, 1842.
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