You brother men, albeit that you must

Hate all such dust as is not of your dust,

Content for power to strive and hate and brawl.

But to you who have laughed and holpen one another,

You few gay valiant souls amid the rabble,

I say—“God knows I have loved you!” Then forgive

Me in whose heart is no more power to live:

Who must with this poor gesture break the bubble

Which held us here on Earth brother to brother.

VANITY OF VANITIES