AMBITION's voice was in my ear, she whisper'd yesterday, "How goodly is the land of Room, how wide the Russian sway! How bless'd to conquer either realm, and dwell through life to come, Lull'd by the harp's melodious string, cheer'd by the northern drum!" But Wisdom heard; "Oh youth," she said, "in passion's fetter tied, O come and see a sight with me shall cure thee of thy pride!" She led me to a lonely dell, a sad and shady ground, Where many an ancient sepulchre gleam'd in the moonshine round. And "Here Secunder sleeps," she cried; "this is his rival's stone; And here the mighty chief reclines who rear'd the Median throne. Enquire of these, doth aught of all their ancient pomp remain Save late regret and bitter tears for ever and in vain? Return, return, and in thy heart engraven keep my lore; The lesser wealth, the lighter load, -- small blame betides the poor." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THOSE AT SEA; HYMN by WILLIAM WHITING ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS: PART 2: 25. THE VIRGIN by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH BILLY, HE'S IN TROUBLE by JAMES BARTON ADAMS TO NANCY F --- by WILLIAM BLAKE THE SPIRITUAL BODY by PHOEBE CARY TO A FAVOURITE PONY by ELIZA COOK |