Alexander the Great
(From the Early Irish)
Four Sages stood to chant a stave
Above the proud Earth Conqueror’s grave;
And all their words were words of candour
Above the urn of Alexander.
The first began: “But yesterday,
When all in state the Great King lay,
Myriads around him made their moan,
To-day he lieth all alone!”
“But yesterday,” the second sang,
“O’er Earth his charger’s hoof outrang;
To-day its outraged soil instead
Is riding heavy o’er his head!”
“But yesterday,” the third went on,
“All Earth was swayed by Philip’s son:
To-day, to shroud his calcined bones,
Seven feet thereof is all he owns!”
“But yesterday, so liberal he,
Silver and gold he scattered free;
To-day,” the last outsighed his thought,
“His wealth abounds but he is naught!”
Thus sentence gave these Sages four,
Above the buried Emperor;
It was no foolish women’s prate
That held them thus in high debate.