Death & Dying

Epitaphium

by Percy Bysshe Shelley 1792–1822

From Complete Poetical Works, Oxford ed. Hutchinson (1914)

Death & Dying

Hic sinu fessum caput hospitali
Cespitis dormit juvenis, nec illi
Fata ridebant, popularis ille
Nescius aurae.

Musa non vultu genus arroganti
Rustica natum grege despicata,
Et suum tristis puerum notavit
Sollicitudo.

Indoles illi bene larga, pectus
Veritas sedem sibi vindicavit,
Et pari tantis meritis beavit
Munere coelum.

Omne quad moestis habuit miserto
Corde largivit lacrimam, recepit
Omne quod coelo voluit, fidelis
Pectus amici.

Longius sed tu fuge curiosus
Caeteras laudes fuge suspicari,
Caeteras culpas fuge velle tractas
Sede tremenda.

Spe tremescentes recubant in illa
Sede virtutes pariterque culpae,
In sui Patris gremio, tremenda
Sede Deique.

✦ ✦ ✦

Written 1808. Published 1847.

MLA

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. “Epitaphium.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shelley/243/.

Chicago

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. “Epitaphium.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shelley/243/.

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