Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | V. Cautions and Complaints | | The Common Doom | | James Shirley (1596–1666) |
| | | VICTORIOUS men of earth, no more | |
| Proclaim how wide your empires are: | |
| Though you bind in every shore, | |
| And your triumphs reach as far | |
| As night or day, | 5 |
| Yet you proud monarchs must obey, | |
| And mingle with forgotten ashes, when | |
| Death calls ye to the crowd of common men. | |
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| Devouring famine, plague, and war, | |
| Each able to undo mankind, | 10 |
| Death’s servile emissaries are; | |
| Nor to these alone confined— | |
| He hath at will | |
| More quaint and subtle ways to kill. | |
| A smile or kiss, as he will use the art, | 15 |
| Shall have the cunning skill to break a heart. | | | | |
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