WHY have the Mighty lived-why have they died? Is it ever, thus, with idle wreck to strew Fields such as thine, remorseless Waterloo? Hopeless the lesson! Vainly hath ever cried Stern Fate to man -"So perish human pride! " Still must the Many combat for the Few: Still must the noblest blood fair earth bedew: Tyrants, slaves, freemen, mouldering side by side! On such a day the World was lost, and won, By Pompey at Pharsalia: such a day Saw glorious Hannibal a fugitive: So faded ' neath the Macedonian Sun Persia's pale star: so empire passed away From Harold's brow, but He disdained to live! |