My Creditor, who is upon the whole No shakes of a philosopher, one day Disputed with me - as an ass might bray - Anent the nature of the human soul. I guess, quoth he, " it must at length decay And die: ten thousand centuries may roll, But what begins must end; and 'twould be droll If things born yesterday should live alway. Beginning, I repeat, implies an end." Whereon I answered, with a deal of dignity, That's all mine eye, my heterodoxish friend! You once began to dun me, yet that bore Ends not and will not end; your base malignity Feeds fat upon my torments evermore!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FUNERAL HYMN by LOUIS UNTERMEYER AMERICA TO GREAT BRITAIN by WASHINGTON ALLSTON THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN POST-MORTEM by EMILY DICKINSON THE LAST RAFT by JOSEPH V. ADAMS OF BEAUTY by EVA K. ANGLESBURG CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: 6. OF PATIENCE by WILLIAM BASSE |