Death & Dying

Song: The Sentiments Borrowed from Shakespeare

by William Collins 1721–1759

Death & Dying

Young Damon of the vale is dead;
Ye lowland hamlets, moan:
A dewy turf lies o'er his head,
And at his feet a stone.

His shroud, which death's cold damps destroy,
Of snow-white threads was made:
All mourn'd to see so sweet a boy
In earth forever laid.

Pale pansies o'er his corpse were plac'd,
Which, pluck'd before their time,
Bestrew'd the boy, like him to waste,
And wither in their prime.

But will he ne'er return, whose tongue
Could tune the rural lay?
Ah, no! his bell of peace is rung,
His lips are cold as clay.

They bore him out at twilight hour,
The youth who lov'd so well:
Ah me! how many a true-love shower
Of kind remembrance fell!

Each maid was woe, but Lucy chief;
Her grief o'er all was tried:
Within his grave she dropp'd in grief,
And o'er her lov'd one died.

MLA

Collins, William. “Song: The Sentiments Borrowed from Shakespeare.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/collins/22/.

Chicago

Collins, William. “Song: The Sentiments Borrowed from Shakespeare.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/collins/22/.

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