"He died in harness": the impending stroke Shook not his nerve nor his high courage broke. Calmly he faced the sure descent of fate Heeding it not for customed cares of State; Thrust anxious looks, imploring hands, aside, Worked as he always worked; then sank and died. Firm thoughts should dwell in Kings: yet in the hour When nature warns them of the date of power, How many at her awful voice have quailed, Ere life has languished, ere the breath has failed! Such weakness was not his: "no thought infirm Altered his cheek" beneath his closing term. No haughtier epitaph can Caesar claim Than to be known in all his acts the same: The @3Semper Idem@1 on life's battlefield, And in death's last assault untaught to yield: Who, though upon time's boundary he stand, Makes time obey him while he holds command. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FROST AT MIDNIGHT by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE LINES COMPOSED AT GRASMERE by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE SEARCH FOR LEAVEN by ALTER ABELSON SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 20. 'SONG IS NOT DEAD' by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) CLOD OF THE EARTH by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH |