 | Poetical Trifles |  |
56
Death spares not.
“Pallida mors œquo pulsat pede, pauperum
tabernas Regum que turres.”
—Hor.
tabernas Regum que turres.”
—Hor.
Death spares not the high in regal state,
Nor shrinks from fretted dome;
But undaunted knocks at palace gate
And calls the spirit home.
Nor shrinks from fretted dome;
But undaunted knocks at palace gate
And calls the spirit home.
Death spares not the rich and joyous son
That basks in gilded wealth:
Ne'er passes by the ravenous one
That lives by haggard stealth.
That basks in gilded wealth:
Ne'er passes by the ravenous one
That lives by haggard stealth.
Death spares not the brave and gallant heart,
That burns with martial glow;
With relentless hand he wings his dart,
And sweeps to shades below.
That burns with martial glow;
With relentless hand he wings his dart,
And sweeps to shades below.
57
Death spares not the rose of beauty's bloom,
Nor flies from healthy cheeks;
For gay youth and age unlocks the tomb,
On all one vengeance wreaks.
Nor flies from healthy cheeks;
For gay youth and age unlocks the tomb,
On all one vengeance wreaks.
Death spares not th' imprudent thoughtless soul
That lives in passion's joy;
Spares not the ideot, who spends his whole
To buy one empty toy.
That lives in passion's joy;
Spares not the ideot, who spends his whole
To buy one empty toy.
Death spares not the pale and studious youth
That sits by midnight oil;
Spares not him who seeks for hidden truth,
But blasts his wearied toil.
That sits by midnight oil;
Spares not him who seeks for hidden truth,
But blasts his wearied toil.
Death spares not th' uneasy troubled life,
Perplex'd with warring cares;
But sudden quells each clamorous strife,
When proud ambition dares.
Perplex'd with warring cares;
But sudden quells each clamorous strife,
When proud ambition dares.
58
Death no mortal spares—his poison'd dart
Hangs o'er each victim's head;
The fiat spoken, 'twill pierce the heart,
And strike the living dead.
Hangs o'er each victim's head;
The fiat spoken, 'twill pierce the heart,
And strike the living dead.
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