Yet it is pitiful how friendships die, Spite of our oaths eternal and high vows. Some fall through blight of tongues wagged secretly, Some through strifes loud in empty honour's house. Some vanish with fame got too glorious, And rapt to heaven in fiery chariots fly; And some are drowned in sloth and the carouse Of wedded joys and long love's tyranny. O ye, who with high-hearted valliance Deem truth eternal and youth's dreams divine, Keep ye from love and fame and the mischance Of other worship than the Muses nine. So haply shall you tread life's latest strand With a true brother still, and hand in hand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR G. by WILFRID WILSON GIBSON THE IMMORTALITY OF LOVE by ROBERT SOUTHEY JOHN UNDERHILL by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER CELESTIAL HEIGHTS by ALFRED AUSTIN VALEDICTORY; THE SCHOLAR TO THE ASHES OF HIS LIBRARY by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB EPITAPH ON NOISY POLEMIC (BURNS'S 'BLETH'RIN BITCH') by ROBERT BURNS A PASTORALL; THE ANTEMASQUE by JANE CAVENDISH |