Ponder, or ere ye speed away,

Those feet o'er flowers were form'd to stray,

No death-wrought causeway, grimly wrought,

Of ghastly bones and mould'ring clay.

To gayer thoughts and scenes arise;

Nor ever veil those sun-bright eyes

From sight of bliss and light of day—

Save when in pity to mankind

Love's fillet o'er their lids ye bind.