Social Commentaries

On a Bad Man

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772–1834

From Complete Poetical Works, ed. E. H. Coleridge (1912)

Social Commentaries

Of him that in this gorgeous tomb doth lie,
This sad brief tale is all that Truth can give--
He lived like one who never thought to die,
He died like one who dared not hope to live!

Under this stone does Walter Harcourt lie,
Who valued nought that God or man could give;
He lived as if he never thought to die;
He died as if he dared not hope to live!

Beneath this stone does William Hazlitt lie,
Thankless of all that God or man could give.
He lived like one who never thought to die,
He died like one who dared not hope to live.

MLA

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. “On a Bad Man.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge/320/.

Chicago

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. “On a Bad Man.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/coleridge/320/.

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