The Works of William Cowper Comprising his poems, correspondence, and translations. With a life of the author, by the editor, Robert Southey |
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ON THE DEATH OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, A PHYSICIAN. |
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The Works of William Cowper | ||
ON THE DEATH OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, A PHYSICIAN.
Learn, ye nations of the earth,
The condition of your birth;
Now be taught your feeble state;
Know, that all must yield to fate!
The condition of your birth;
Now be taught your feeble state;
Know, that all must yield to fate!
If the mournful rover, Death,
Say but once—“Resign your breath!”
Vainly of escape you dream,
You must pass the Stygian stream.
Say but once—“Resign your breath!”
Vainly of escape you dream,
You must pass the Stygian stream.
Could the stoutest overcome
Death's assault, and baffle doom,
Hercules had both withstood,
Undiseased by Nessus' blood.
Death's assault, and baffle doom,
Hercules had both withstood,
Undiseased by Nessus' blood.
156
Ne'er had Hector press'd the plain
By a trick of Pallas slain,
Nor the chief to Jove allied
By Achilles' phantom died.
By a trick of Pallas slain,
Nor the chief to Jove allied
By Achilles' phantom died.
Could enchantments life prolong,
Circe, saved by magic song,
Still had lived, and equal skill
Had preserved Medea still.
Circe, saved by magic song,
Still had lived, and equal skill
Had preserved Medea still.
Dwelt in herbs, and drugs, a power
To avert man's destined hour,
Learn'd Machaon should have known
Doubtless to avert his own.
To avert man's destined hour,
Learn'd Machaon should have known
Doubtless to avert his own.
Chiron had survived the smart
Of the Hydra-tainted dart,
And Jove's bolt had been, with ease,
Foil'd by Asclepiades.
Of the Hydra-tainted dart,
And Jove's bolt had been, with ease,
Foil'd by Asclepiades.
Thou too, sage! of whom forlorn
Helicon and Cirrha mourn,
Still hadst fill'd thy princely place,
Regent of the gowned race;
Helicon and Cirrha mourn,
Still hadst fill'd thy princely place,
Regent of the gowned race;
Hadst advanced to higher fame
Still, thy much-ennobled name,
Nor in Charon's skiff explored
The Tartarean gulf abhorr'd.
Still, thy much-ennobled name,
Nor in Charon's skiff explored
The Tartarean gulf abhorr'd.
But resentful Proserpine,
Jealous of thy skill divine,
Snapping short thy vital thread,
Thee too number'd with the dead.
Jealous of thy skill divine,
Snapping short thy vital thread,
Thee too number'd with the dead.
157
Wise and good! untroubled be
The green turf, that covers thee!
Thence, in gay profusion, grow
All the sweetest flowers that blow!
The green turf, that covers thee!
Thence, in gay profusion, grow
All the sweetest flowers that blow!
Pluto's consort bid thee rest!
Æacus pronounce thee blest,
To her home thy shade consign,
Make Elysium ever thine!
Æacus pronounce thee blest,
To her home thy shade consign,
Make Elysium ever thine!
The Works of William Cowper | ||