All is Vanity, Saith the Preacher
by George Gordon, Lord Byron
(From Hebrew Melodies - 1815)
On the Day of the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus
1
- Fame, wisdom, love, and power were mine,
- And health and youth possessd me;
- My goblets blushd from every vine,
- And lovely forms caressd me;
- I sunnd my heart in beautys eyes,
- And felt my soul grow tender;
- All earth can give, or mortal prize,
- Was mine of regal splendour.
2
- I strive to number oer what days
- Remembrance can discover,
- Which all that life or earth displays
- Would lure me to live over.
- There rose no day, there rolld no hour
- Of pleasure unembitterd:
- And not a trapping deckd my power
- That galld not while it glitterd.
3
- The serpent of the field, by art
- And spells, is won from harming;
- But that which coils around the heart,
- Oh! who hath power of charming?
- It will not list to wisdoms lore,
- Nor musics voice can lure it;
- But there it stings for evermore
- The soul that must endure it.
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