The lords of earth! the property of worms!

Beings of yesterday, and no to-morrow!

Who lived in terror, and in pangs expired! 840

All gone to rot in chaos; or to make

Their happy transit into blocks or brutes, 842

Nor longer sully their Creator’s name.

Lorenzo! hear, pause, ponder, and pronounce.

Just is this history? If such is man,

Mankind’s historian, though divine, might weep.

And dares Lorenzo smile!—I know thee proud;