CHARMIAN. The Queen's dark laugh is dreadful as the night. IRAS. As dark as fortune in these latter days. CHARMIAN. Fortune? Nay, fate that hurries us to our place -- IRAS. By this mad feast, the funeral of delight. CHARMIAN. The Queen's thin laugh sounds like a spent wind's flight. IRAS. Her hopeless revels dazzle and amaze -- CHARMIAN. As when expiring flames an instant blaze -- IRAS. Aye, ere they sink in the black infinite. CHARMIAN. Such pleasure is the gods' contemptuous grant. IRAS. And pleasure's term by it shall quicklier come. CHARMIAN. Hark, mid sad mirth that lull significant -- IRAS. And, like a dirge, the music's faltering strain. CHARMIAN. Soon shall the music, like the rest, fall dumb. IRAS. And desolate Memphian silences remain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PERIMEDES, THE BLACKSMITH: PHILLIS AND CORIDON by ROBERT GREENE ON A BOY'S FIRST READING OF THE PLAY OF 'KING HENRY THE FIFTH' by SILAS WEIR MITCHELL THE DREARY CHANGE by WALTER SCOTT MY SHADOW by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON AT A FUNERAL by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE WORM TURNS by BERTON BRALEY |