“The sword, you know, wears out the sheath;

By steam are broken vessels scatter’d;

And when volcanos rage beneath,

The surface must be torn and scatter’d.

“Have not your passions, hopes, and fears,

Their tegument of clay outwearing,

Done infinitely more than years

To cause the ravage you’re declaring?

“If you yourself no symptom show

Of age—no wrinkles of the spirit;