 | The poems (1969) |  |
9 On the Death of the Right Honourable ***
592
Ye Muses, pour the pitying tear
For Pollio snatched away;
O had he lived another year!
He had not died today.
For Pollio snatched away;
O had he lived another year!
He had not died today.
O, were he born to bless mankind,
In virtuous times of yore,
Heroes themselves had fallen behind!
Whene'er he went before.
In virtuous times of yore,
Heroes themselves had fallen behind!
Whene'er he went before.
How sad the groves and plains appear,
And sympathetic sheep;
Even pitying hills would drop a tear!
If hills could learn to weep.
And sympathetic sheep;
Even pitying hills would drop a tear!
If hills could learn to weep.
His bounty in exalted strain
Each bard might well display;
Since none implored relief in vain!
That went relieved away.
Each bard might well display;
Since none implored relief in vain!
That went relieved away.
And hark! I hear the tuneful throng
His obsequies forbid.
He still shall live, shall live as long!
As ever dead man did.
His obsequies forbid.
He still shall live, shall live as long!
As ever dead man did.
| The poems (1969) | |