Legal & Other Lyrics By George Outram: Containing a number of new pieces & fifteen illustrations by Edward J. Sullivan |
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 | EPITAPHS |
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 | Legal & Other Lyrics |  |
147
EPITAPHS
HERE LIES
Here lies, of sense bereft—
But sense he never had;
Here lies, by feeling left—
But that is just as bad;
Here lies, reduced to dirt—
That's what he always was;
Here lies, without a heart—
He ne'er had one, alas!
But sense he never had;
Here lies, by feeling left—
But that is just as bad;
Here lies, reduced to dirt—
That's what he always was;
Here lies, without a heart—
He ne'er had one, alas!
Here lies ........
He did so ere he died;
Then simply to begin,—Here lies—
But all his life he lied.
Death is a change, they say,—
Ye powers that rule the sky,
What change is here, I pray?
For surely he did die.
He did so ere he died;
Then simply to begin,—Here lies—
But all his life he lied.
Death is a change, they say,—
Ye powers that rule the sky,
What change is here, I pray?
For surely he did die.
AN EPITAPH AND RETROSPECT
Beneath this rude and little honoured urn
The bones of one still little loved repose:
Few know or care what cause he had to mourn,
And fewer still could sorrow for his woes.
The bones of one still little loved repose:
Few know or care what cause he had to mourn,
And fewer still could sorrow for his woes.
148
Nor cold nor hunger cursed his lowly fate;
Nor faithlessness of friends, nor scorn of men;
Nor vain ambitious dreams, found false too late;
Nor rude oppression caused his bosom's pain.
Nor faithlessness of friends, nor scorn of men;
Nor vain ambitious dreams, found false too late;
Nor rude oppression caused his bosom's pain.
He loved mankind—he still was just and true—
Still he brought succour to the weak and poor;
He wished to make each mourner glad—but few,
Few were his means the bleeding soul to cure.
Still he brought succour to the weak and poor;
He wished to make each mourner glad—but few,
Few were his means the bleeding soul to cure.
If you have ever grieved, he grieved for you—
For every woe his sympathy could claim;
He wept for all, while yet his tears could flow—
Now he is gone!—and who will weep for him?
For every woe his sympathy could claim;
He wept for all, while yet his tears could flow—
Now he is gone!—and who will weep for him?
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