THE TIMELY MEMENTO by PHILIP AYRES

THE shipwrack'd bark cannot more sure convey
Our human life into the raging sea:
Nor darts to mark can more directly fly:
Nor floods to th' ocean, than we post to die.

Then happy thou, who dost so well begin,
And so thy race hold on, the palm to win!
Blest Runner! that when tir'd, and lying down,
Dost rise possess'd of an Eternal Crown.

Only by closing here thy mortal eyes,
Opens the passage to celestial joys.
Then let him take the Earth who loves to reign,
Yet a small tract, e'er long, shall him contain;

Where he as monarch cannot be obey'd,
For saucy worms his limits shall invade.
If all must die, why should we fear and grieve,
Since dying is the only way to live?

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