CCXVI. My day's of love are over; me no more? The charms of maid, wife, and still less of widow, CCXVII. Ambition was my idol, which was broken CCXVIII. What is the end of fame? 't is but to fill A certain portion of uncertain paper; Some liken it to climbing up a hill, Whose summit, like all hills, is lost in vapour : For this men write, speak, preach, and heroes kill, And bards burn what they call their « midnight taper, » To have, when the original is dust, A name, a wretched picture, and worse bust. CCXIX. What are the hopes of man? old Egypt's king And largest, thinking it was just the thing To keep his memory whole, and mummy hid; Burglariously broke his coffin's lid: CCXX. But I, being fond of true philosophy, Say very often to myself, « Alas! All things that have been born were born to die, CCXXI. But for the present, gentle reader! and Each other; and if not, I shall not try Your patience further than by this short sample— 'T were well if others follow'd my example. " CXXII. « Go, little book, from this my solitude! I cast thee on the waters-go thy ways! And if, as I believe, thy vein be good, The world will find thee after many days." When Southey's read, and Wordsworth understood, I can't help putting in my claim to praise— The four first rhymes are Southey's every For God's sake! reader, take them not for mine. line: END OF CANTO FIRST. NOTES TO CANTO I. Save thine incomparable oil," Macassar! Description des vertus incomparables de l'huile de Macassar.» See the Advertisement. Note 3, page 17, stanza XLII. Although Longinus tells us there is no hymn Where the sublime soars forth on wings more ample; etc. See Longinus, Section 10, «ἵνα μὴ ἔν τι περὶ αὐτὴν πάθος φαίνηται, παθῶν δὲ σύνοδος.» Note 4, page 17, stanza XLIV. They only add them all in an appendix, etc. Fact. There is, or was, such an edition, with all the obnoxious epigrams of Martial placed by themselves at the end. Note 5, page 32, stanza LXXXVIII. The bard I quote from does not sing amiss, etc. Campbell's Gertrude of Wyoming, (I think) the opening of Canto II ; but quote from memory. |