WAS GENEROUS, NOBLE-NOBLE IN ITS SCORN
OF ALL THINGS LOW OR LITTLE; NOTHING THERE
SORDID OR SERVILE. IF IMAGINED WRONGS
PURSUED THEE, URGING thee SOMETIMES TO DO
THINGS LONG regretteD, OFT, AS MANY KNOW,
NONE MORE THAN I, THY GRATITUDE WOULD BUILD
ON SLIGHT FOUNDATIONS: AND, IF IN THY LIFE
NOT HAPPY, IN THY DEATH THOU SURELY wert,
THY WISH ACCOMPLISH'D; DYING IN THE LAND
WHERE THY YOUNG MIND HAD CAUGHT ETHEREAL FIRE,
DYING IN GREECE, AND IN A CAUSE SO GLORIOUS!
AND HE WHO WOULD ASSAIL THEE IN THY GRAVE,
OH, LET HIM PAUSE! FOR WHO AMONG US ALL,
TRIED AS THOU WERT-EVEN FROM THINE EARLIEST YEARS,
WHEN WANDERING, YET UNSPOILT, A HIGHLAND BOY —
TRIED AS THOU WERT, AND WITH THY SOUL OF FLAME;
PLEASURE, WHILE YET THE DOWN WAS ON THY CHEEK,
UPLIFTING, Pressing, and TO LIPS LIKE thine,
HER CHARMED CUP-AH, WHO AMONGST US ALL
COULD SAY HE HAD NOT ERR'D AS MUCH, AND MORE?"