He saw whatever thou hast seen;
Encounter'd all that troubles thee:
He was—whatever thou hast been;
He is—what thou shalt be.
The rolling seasons, day and night,
Sun, moon, and stars, the earth and main,
Erewhile his portion, life and light,
To him exist in vain.
The clouds and sunbeams, o'er his eye
That once their shades and glory threw,
Have left in yonder silent sky
No vestige where they flew.
The annals of the human race,
Their ruins, since the world began,
Of HIM afford no other trace
Than this,—THERE LIVED A MAN!
November 4, 1805. BARRY CORNWALL'S "EPISTLE TO CHARLES LAMB;
ON HIS EMANCIPATION FROM CLERKSHIP"
(WRITTEN OVER A FLASK OF SHERRIS)
FROM ENGLISH SONGS
(See Letter 551, page 952)
Dear Lamb! I drink to thee,—to thee
Married to sweet Liberty!