It must be so--Plato, thou reasonest well!--
Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after immortality?
Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror,
O falling into nought? Why shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at destruction?
'Tis the divinity that stirs within us;
'Tis heaven itself, that points out an hereafter,
And intimates eternity to man.
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That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.
That man has reached immortality who is disturbed by nothing material.
All men think all men mortal, but themselves.
All men think all men mortal, but themselves.
Yet spirit immortal, the tomb cannot bind thee,
But like thine own eagle that soars to the sun
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Yet spirit immortal, the tomb cannot bind thee,
But like thine own eagle that soars to the sun
Thou springest from bondage and leavest behind thee
A name which before thee no mortal hath won.
He ne'er is crowned with immortality
Who fears to follow where airy voices lead.
He ne'er is crowned with immortality
Who fears to follow where airy voices lead.
'Tis immortality to die aspiring,
As if a man were taken quick to heaven.
'Tis immortality to die aspiring,
As if a man were taken quick to heaven.
We feel and know that we are eternal.
We feel and know that we are eternal.
To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake
To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake
If I stoop
Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,
It is but for a time; I read more
If I stoop
Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,
It is but for a time; I press God's lamp
Close to my breast; its splendor soon or late
Will pierce the gloom; I shall emerge one day.
