826
death's doings.
VI.
Death and obstruction* now their empire hold
Where once was angry jar and hot dispute;Fame, that would aye their endless praise have told!
Hath silenced now her hoarse unheeded suitTo hard posterity;—and all is mute,
Save the loud jibes of envious Mockery's tongue,Such is of earthly Worth the bitter fruit;
While o'er its tomb her scornful laugh hath rung,When pointing at the 'scutcheon Age would highhave hung!
VII.
And thy lot, wisdom-scoffer, is the same,
Though mock'st thou Cynic tub and Stoic school!Yea, Folly ne'er will fail her own to claim,—
Her mark denounces thee, cold heartless fool,For wasting life without design or rule!
Oh, foolishness ! to gaze upon the land,And idly deem Creation but the tool
To feed thy sluggishness with impious hand—And, for thee, wonders work, as erst on Egypt'sstrand!
* " To lie in cold obstruction and to rot."— Shakspeari;.