Ministers of the Muses, with the rest,
Peerless Homer, by all their king confessed,
Raised not a single murmur, did not plead
For one song more before they joined the dead.
Democritus, not stooping to complain,
When he missed the old readiness of brain,
Stayed for no rougher monitors of age;
Spared death the toil of posting the last stage,
When the sun arises the stars that shone
In high Heaven, leave it to flame alone.