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but worms are with the body paid, That--the world watched o'er. Haughty plants within that humble bed See how death their pomp decayed and fled With unblushing ribaldry besets! They who ruled o'er north and east and west Suffer now his ev'ry nauseous jest, And--no sultan threats? Leap for joy, ye stubborn dumb, to-day, And your heavy slumber shake away! From the battle, victory upsprings! Hearken to the trump's exulting song! Ye are worshipped by the shouting throng!-- Rouse ye, then, ye kings! Seven sleepers!--to the clarion hark! How it rings, and how the fierce dogs bark! Shouts from out a thousand barrels whizz; Eager steeds are neighing for the wood,-- Soon the bristly boar rolls in his blood,-- Yours the triumph is! But what now?--Are even princes dumb? Tow'rd me scornful echoes ninefold come, Stealing through the vault's terrific gloom-- Sleep assails the page by slow degrees, And Madonna gives to you the keys Of--her sleeping-room. Not an answer--hushed and still is all-- Does the veil, then, e'en on monarchs fall, Which enshrouds their humble flatt'rers glance? And ye ask for worship in the dust, Since the blind jade, Fate, a world has thrust In your purse, perchance? And ye clatter, giant puppet troops, Marshalled in your proudly childish groups, Like the juggler on the opera scene?-- Though the sound may please the vulgar ear, Yet the skilful, filled with sadness, jeer Powers so great, but mean. Let your towering shame be hid from sight In the garment of a sovereign's right, From the ambush of the throne outspring! Tremble, though, before the voice of song Through the purple, vengeance will, ere long, Strike down e'en a king! THE SATYR AND MY MUSE. An aged satyr sought Around my Muse to pass, Attempting to pay court, And eyed her fondly through his glass. By Phoebus' golden torch, By Luna's pallid light, Around her temple's porch Crept the unhappy sharp-eared wight; And warbled many a lay, Her beauty's praise to sing, And fiercely scraped away On his discordant fiddle-string. With tears, too, swelled his eyes, As large as nuts, or larger; He gasped forth heavy sighs, Like music from Silenus' charger. The Muse sat still, and played Within her gr
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