Round Death’s black banner throng’d, in human thought!
By thousands, now, resigning their last breath,
And calling thee—wert thou so wise to hear!
By tombs o’er tombs arising; human earth
Ejected, to make room for—human earth;
The monarch’s terror! and the sexton’s trade!
By pompous obsequies that shun the day,
The torch funereal, and the nodding plume,
Which makes poor man’s humiliation proud;
Boast of our ruin! triumph of our dust! 2130