Ambition was my idol, which was broken Before the shrines of Sorrow, and of Pleasure; And the two last have left me many a token O'er which reflection may be made at leisure: Now, like Friar Bacon's Brazen Head, I've spoken, "Time is, Time was, Time's past:"[91]--a chymic treasure Is glittering Youth, which I have spent betimes-- My heart in passion, and my head on rhymes. CCXVIII. What is the end of Fame? 't is but to fill A certain portion of uncertain paper: Some liken it to climbing up a hill, Whose summit, like all hills, is lost in vapour;[92] For this men write, speak, preach, and heroes kill, And bards burn what they call their "midnight taper," To have, when the original is dust, A name, a wretched picture and worse bust.[aw][93] CCXIX. What are the hopes of man? Old Egypt's King Cheops erected the first Pyramid And largest, thinking it was just the thing To keep his memory whole, and mummy hid; But somebody or other rummaging, Burglariously broke his coffin's lid: Let not a monument give you or me hopes, Since not a pinch of dust remains of Cheops.[94] CCXX. But I, being fond of true philosophy, Say very often to myself, "Alas! All things that have been born were born to die, And flesh (which Death mows down to hay) is grass; You've passed your youth not so unpleasantly, And if you had it o'er again--'t would pass-- So thank your stars that matters are no worse, And read your Bible, sir, and mind your purse." CCXXI. But for the present, gentle reader! and Still gentler purchaser! the Bard--that's I-- Must, with permission, shake you by the hand,[ax] And so--"your humble servant, and Good-bye!" We meet again, if we should understand Each other; and if not, I shall not try Your patience further than by this short sample-- 'T were well if others followed my example. CCXXII. "Go, little Book, from this my solitude! I cast thee on the waters--go thy ways! And if, as I believe, thy vein be good, The World will find thee after many days."[95] When Southey's read, and Wordsworth understood, I can't help putting in my claim to praise-- The four first rhymes are Southey's every line: For God's sake, reader! take them not for mine. Nov. 1, 1818. FOOTNOTES: {11}[14] [Begun at Venice, September 6; finished November 1, 1818.]