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'Behold this ruin "Twas a
skull
Once of ethereal spirit full
This narrow cell was Life's
retreat
 This space was
Thought's Mysterious seat.
What beauteous visions filled
this spot!
What dreams of pleasure long forgot!
Nor hope, nor joy, nor love, nor
fear
Has left one trace of record here.
'Beneath this mouldering canopy
Once shone the bright and busy eye:
But start not at the dismal
void....
If social love that eye employed,
If with no flawless fire it
gleamed,
But through the dews of kindness beamed
That eye shall be forever bright
When stars and sun are sunk in night.
Within this hollow cavern hung
The ready, swift, and tuneful tongue:
If Falsehood’s honey it
disdained
And when it could not praise was chained,
If bold in Virtue's cause it
spoke,
Yet gentle concord never broke-This
silent tongue shall plead for
thee
When time unveils Eternity.
Say did these fingers delve the
mine,
Or with the envied rubies shine?
To hew the rock, or wear a gem
Can little now avail to them;
But if the page of Truth they
sought
Or comfort to the mourner brought
These hands a richer mead shall
claim
Than all that wait on Wealth and Fame.
Avails it, whether base or shod
These feet the Paths of duty trod
If from the bowers of ease they
fled
To seek Afflictions humble shed
If Grandeur's guilty bribe they
spurned
And home to Virtue's cot returned
These feet with angel wings shall
vie
And tread the palace of the sky’.
'Behold this ruin "Twas a
skull
Once of ethereal spirit full
This narrow cell was Life's
retreat
This space was Thought's Mysterious seat.
What beauteous visions filled
this spot!
What dreams of pleasure long forgot!
Nor hope, nor joy, nor love, nor
fear
Has left one trace of record here.
'Beneath this mouldering canopy
Once shone the bright and busy eye:
But start not at the dismal
void....
If social love that eye employed,
If with no flawless fire it
gleamed,
But through the dews of kindness beamed
That eye shall be forever bright
When stars and sun are sunk in night.
Within this hollow cavern hung
The ready, swift, and tuneful tongue:
If Falsehood’s honey it
disdained
And when it could not praise was chained,
If bold in Virtue's cause it
spoke,
Yet gentle concord never broke-This
silent tongue shall plead for
thee
When time unveils Eternity.
Say did these fingers delve the
mine,
Or with the envied rubies shine?
To hew the rock, or wear a gem
Can little now avail to them;
But if the page of Truth they
sought
Or comfort to the mourner brought
These hands a richer mead shall
claim
Than all that wait on Wealth and Fame.
Avails it, whether base or shod
These feet the Paths of duty trod
If from the bowers of ease they
fled
To seek Afflictions humble shed
If Grandeur's guilty bribe they
spurned
And home to Virtue's cot returned
These
feet with angel wings shall vie
And
tread the palace of the sky’.
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