Immortality

Immortality, a Poem

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839. Excerpt: ... Thou art adjudged to higher spheres to rise, With souls congenial join,--the good, the wise; With well-meaning men of every grade, Whose rule of life unbiass'd conscience made." The judged heard with modest joy his fate, And felt recruited strength t' enjoy his glorious state. The spark of life began once more to burn, And beauty's lost proportions to return,--Improved return: from morning's chilly haze, Thus nature opens in the solar rays. Next there appear'd before this awful throne, One whose chief boast was, to have nothing done. His creed of pride so wide from reason ran, As to despise all industry in man: The only things important, in his way, Were, skill to make a bet, and skill in play; And then to pass his time, not thus applied, He dress'd, and drank,--did anything beside; 'Tis not meant useful things; he ne'er was blamed For making thus his proudest friends ashamed: He proved that folly may be warp'd by pride, To think that uselessness to greatness is allied. A judge demanded how on earth had run His threescore years, and what the good he'd done. Somewhat abash'd, he tremblingly replied,--"My faults had all their source in family pride; For this, all occupations were denied; All were, I thought, injurious to my name, Save church, or law, or fighting,--roads to fame: These I disliked; with study quite at strife; Hating still more th' obedient soldier's life. I eked my bounded means the best I could By play or sports, but did not think of good." "Go," said the judge; "the self-select have place On a small planet in ethereal space, Where thou wilt find there's something to be done, Ere that thy daily sustenance is won: Where thou must live for long protracted years, To learn how wide thy course from wisdom steers; Ere thou canst those rejoin, than...