Alexander the Great

Four men stood beside a grave,
Alexander's, great and brave;
There the song of truth they said
O'er the mighty monarch dead.

"Yesterday," the first man spoke,
"All the world lay 'neath his yoke,
Myriad hosts were then his own,
To-day he lieth all alone."

The second: "Yesterday he hurl'd
Royal edicts o'er the world,
Rode the earth from rim to rim
To-day earth rideth over him."

"Yesterday," so spake the third,
"All things hung upon his word,
Naught save his of earth was found,
To-day, scarce seven feet of ground."

"Alexander, brave and bold,
Alexander treasured gold "—
Thus the fourth man said his say —
"The gold, it treasures him to-day."

Like the Palm o'er all the trees,
Like Leviathan in seas,
Like the Moon above the stars,
Shone the Conqueror of wars.

Like as Siori to all hills,
Like the Ocean to the rills,
Like the Eagle's victor head,
Like the Lion on his dead:

Greatest he of all things great,
Loftiest on earth his state,
Mightiest Man that ever trod,
None above him, — only God!

Truth they told beside the grave,
Of the High King bold and brave,
Not as foolish dames deplore,
Sang the wisdom of the Four.