Trooping from their mouldy dens The chap-fallen circle spreads: Hollow hearts and empty heads! "You are bones, and what of that? Every face, however full, Padded round with flesh and fat, "Death is king, and Vivat Rex ! Tread a measure on the stones, Madam-if I know your sex, From the fashion of your bones. "No, I cannot praise the fire In your eye-nor yet your lip: All the more do I admire Joints of cunning workmanship. "Lo! God's likeness-the ground-plan Neither modell'd, glazed, or framed : Buss me, thou rough sketch of man, Far too naked to be shamed! "Drink to Fortune, drink to Chance, While we keep a little breath! Drink to heavy Ignorance! Hob-and-nob with brother Death! "Thou art mazed, the night is long, What! I am not all as wrong "Youthful hopes, by scores, to all, When the locks are crisp and curl'd ; Unto me my maudlin gall And my mockeries of the world. ; "Fill the cup, and fill the can! Mingle madness, mingle scorn! Dregs of life, and lees of man: Yet we will not die forlorn." The voice grew faint: there came a further change; By shards and scurf of salt, and scum of dross, The crime of malice, and is equal blame." And one: "He had not wholly quench'd his power; A little grain of conscience made him sour." Cry to the summit, "Is there any hope? VOL. II. To which an answer peal'd from that high land, But in a tongue no man could understand; And on the glimmering limit far withdrawn THE SKIPPING-ROPE. SURE never yet was Antelope Could skip so lightly by. Stand off, or else my skipping-rope Will hit you in the eye. How lightly whirls the skipping-rope ! How fairy-like you fly! Go, get you gone, you muse and mope— I hate that silly sigh. Nay, dearest, teach me how to hope, Or tell me how to die. There, take it, take my skipping-rope, And hang yourself thereby. |