When I Peruse the Conquer’d Fame
When I peruse the conquer’d fame of heroes and the victories ofmighty generals, I do not envy the generals,Nor the President in his Presidency, nor the rich in his great house,But when I hear of the brotherhood of lovers, how it was with them,How together through life, through dangers, odium, unchanging, longand long,Through youth and through middle and old age, how unfaltering, howaffectionate and faithful they were,Then I am pensive—I hastily walk away fill’d with the bitterest envy.