What is the Poet’s heritage,

In every clime, in every age?

While living, disappointment, doubt,

To wear his wasting spirit out;

To feel ambition’s haughty fire,

Yet doomed to see its light expire;

To struggle on, and toil for fame;

To bear with scorn, and want, and shame;

To hope, and find that he must die.

For him, is life’s sole certainty.