Under this cold marble stone Lie the sad remains of one Who, when alive, by few or none Was lov'd, as lov'd she might have been, If she prosp'rous days had seen, Or had thriving been, I ween. Only this cold funeral stone Tells, she was beloved by one, Who on the marble graves his moan. II A Heart which felt unkindness, yet complained not, A Tongue which spake the simple Truth, and feigned not: A Soul as white as the pure marble skin (The beauteous Mansion it was lodgèd in) Which, unrespected, could itself respect, On Earth was all the Portion of a Maid Who in this common Sanctuary laid, Sleeps unoffended by the World's neglect. THE APE (1806) An Ape is but a trivial beast, Men count it light and vain; But I would let them have their thoughts, To have my Ape again. To love a beast in any sort, Is no great sign of grace; But I have loved a flouting Ape's 'Bove any lady's face. I have known the power of two fair eyes, In smile, or else in glance, And how (for I a lover was) They make the spirits dance; But I would give two hundred smiles, Of them that fairest be, For one look of my staring Ape, That used to stare on me. This beast, this Ape, it had a face-- If face it might be styl'd-- Sometimes it was a staring Ape, Sometimes a beauteous child-- A Negro flat--a Pagod squat, Cast in a Chinese mold-- And then it was a Cherub's face, Made of the beaten gold! But TIME, that's meddling, meddling still And always altering things-- And, what's already at the best, To alteration brings-- That turns the sweetest buds to flowers, And chops and changes toys-- That breaks up dreams, and parts old friends, And still commutes our joys-- Has changed away my Ape at last And in its place convey'd, Thinking therewith to cheat my sight, A fresh and blooming maid! And fair to sight is she--and still Each day doth sightlier grow, Upon the ruins of the Ape, My ancient play-fellow! The tale of Sphinx, and Theban jests, I true in me perceive; I suffer riddles; death from dark Enigmas I receive: Whilst a hid being I pursue, That lurks in a new shape, My darling in herself I miss-- And, in my Ape, THE APE.