If we work upon marble it will perish. If we work upon brass
time will efface it. If we rear temples they will crumble to
dust. But if we work upon men's immortal minds, if we imbue them
with high principles, with the just fear of God and love of their
fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something which no time
can efface, and which will brighten and brighten to all eternity.
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You shall not pile, with servile toil,
Your monuments upon my breast,
Nor yet within the common read more
You shall not pile, with servile toil,
Your monuments upon my breast,
Nor yet within the common soil
Lay down the wreck of power to rest,
Where man can boast that he has trod
On him that was "the scourge of God."
He made him a hut, wherein he did put
The carcass of Robinson Crusoe.
O poor Robinson read more
He made him a hut, wherein he did put
The carcass of Robinson Crusoe.
O poor Robinson Crusoe!
Tombs are the clothes of the dead. A grave is but a plain suit,
and a rich monument is read more
Tombs are the clothes of the dead. A grave is but a plain suit,
and a rich monument is one embroidered.
Where London's column, pointing at the skies,
Like a tall bully, lifts the head and lies.
Where London's column, pointing at the skies,
Like a tall bully, lifts the head and lies.
The tap'ring pyramid, the Egyptian's pride,
And wonder of the world, whose spiky top
Has wounded the read more
The tap'ring pyramid, the Egyptian's pride,
And wonder of the world, whose spiky top
Has wounded the thick cloud.
Their monument sticks like a fishbone
in the city's throat.
Their monument sticks like a fishbone
in the city's throat.
I have reared a memorial more enduring than brass, and loftier
than the regal structure of the pyramids, which read more
I have reared a memorial more enduring than brass, and loftier
than the regal structure of the pyramids, which neither the
corroding shower nor the powerless north wind can destroy; no,
not even unending years nor the flight of time itself. I shall
not entirely die. The greater part of me shall escape oblivion.
[Lat., Exegi monumentum aera perennius
Regalique situ pyramidum altius,
Quod non imber edax, non Aquilo impotens
Possit diruere aut innumerabilis
Annorum series et fuga temporum.
Non omnis moriar, multaque pars mei
Vitabit Libitinam.]
He is covered by the heavens who has no sepulchral urn.
[Lat., Coelo tegitur qui non habet urnam.]
He is covered by the heavens who has no sepulchral urn.
[Lat., Coelo tegitur qui non habet urnam.]
