07.05.2007, 11:00
Calvus
Bold mortal! thou dost ape the skeleton
That satirizes man and all his doings
From every opened grave; and shouldst seem one,
But for the glow-worm which is in thine eyes,
And certain airs that from thy lips arise:
Why, now to see thee at thine amorous coolings,
Or gravely preaching immortality,
To which thy living death’s-head gives the lie,
Would make the shadow that all life receiveth
Shake his dim sides with horrible derision.
Tell us, old Calvus! what about thee cleaveth,
To make distinction still between the vision
Of a death’s-head and thine? Get thee false hair,
For thy sole privilege to upper air.
Bold mortal! thou dost ape the skeleton
That satirizes man and all his doings
From every opened grave; and shouldst seem one,
But for the glow-worm which is in thine eyes,
And certain airs that from thy lips arise:
Why, now to see thee at thine amorous coolings,
Or gravely preaching immortality,
To which thy living death’s-head gives the lie,
Would make the shadow that all life receiveth
Shake his dim sides with horrible derision.
Tell us, old Calvus! what about thee cleaveth,
To make distinction still between the vision
Of a death’s-head and thine? Get thee false hair,
For thy sole privilege to upper air.