Whose rosy tincture sham’d the rising morn;
[p184]
No more with sparkling radiance shine those eyes,
Nor over those the sable arches rise;
Nor from those ruby lips soft accents flow,
Nor lilies on the snowy forehead blow;
All, all are cropp’d by death’s impartial hand,
Charms could not bribe, nor beauty’s power withstand;
Not all that crowd of wondrous charms could save
Their fair possessor from the dreary grave.
How frail is beauty, transient, false and vain!