Stones from The Quarry or, Moods of Mind. By Henry Browne [i.e. Henry Ellison] |
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“LET US EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY
FOR TO-MORROW WE DIE.” |
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 | Stones from The Quarry |  |
138
“LET US EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY FOR TO-MORROW WE DIE.”
Ay, ye may play “Diabolus,” gibe, sneer,Out-Mephistopheles himself, and scoff;
Like Faust, your fine Elixir-vitæ quaff
Of wit, all lusts of flesh, passion, good cheer;
And o'er the brimming cup of Pleasure leer
At harlots: hollow soon will grow your laugh,
Empty the cup, and, the feast-dress put off,
With filthy spueings end your brief career!
This were not Life, were Death all ye suppose.
Sternly the Moral Law upholdeth Good:
Life's circle from this centre only knows
Coherence, strength; without this bond it would
Soon fall away from Human neighbourhood,
And fitly with a Pandemonium close!
| Stones from The Quarry | |