Page:Poetical works (IA poeticalworks00grayrich).pdf/138

Alas! regardless of their doom
The little victims play;
No sense have they of ills to come,
Nor care beyond to-day:
Yet see, how all around 'em wait 55
The ministers of human fate,
And black Misfortune's baleful train!
Ah, show them where in ambush stand,
To seize their prey, the murth'rous band!
Ah, tell them, they are men! 60

These shall the fury Passions tear,
The vultures of the mind,
Disdainful Anger, pallid Fear,
And Shame that sculks behind;
Or pining Love shall waste their youth, 65
Or Jealousy, with rankling tooth,

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Notes

1. V. 51. "L'en now, regardless of his doom, 65 Applauding honour haunts his tomb." Collins. Ode on the Death of Col. Ross, 4th stanza of his first manuscript.
2. V. 55. These two lines resemble two in Broome. Ode ou Melancholy, p. 28: While round, stern ministers of fate, Pain, and Disease, and Sorrow wait." And Otway, Alcih. act v. se. 2. p. 84. "Then enter, ye grim ministers of fate."
3. V. 61. The fury Passions from that flood began." See Pope. Essay on Man, iii, 167.
4. V. 63. Exsanguisque Metus," Stat. Theb. vii. 49. Aud from bim Milton. Quint. Novemb. 148: "Exsan- guisque Horror." Pers. Sat. iii. v. 115, "Timor albus."
5. V. 66. But gnawing Jealousy out of their sight, Sitting alone, his bitter lips did bite." Spenser. F. Q. vi. 23.