| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 643. Sir Marmaduke’s Musings |
| | | By Theodore Tilton |
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| I WON a noble fame; | |
| But, with a sudden frown, | |
| The people snatched my crown, | |
| And, in the mire, trod down | |
| My lofty name. | 5 |
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| I bore a bounteous purse; | |
| And beggars by the way | |
| Then blessed me, day by day; | |
| But I, grown poor as they, | |
| Have now their curse. | 10 |
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| I gained what men call friends; | |
| But now their love is hate, | |
| And I have learned, too late, | |
| How mated minds unmate, | |
| And friendship ends. | 15 |
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| I clasped a woman’s breast,— | |
| As if her heart, I knew, | |
| Or fancied, would be true,— | |
| Who proved, alas! she too! | |
| False like the rest. | 20 |
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| I now am all bereft,— | |
| As when some tower doth fall, | |
| With battlement, and wall, | |
| And gate, and bridge, and all,— | |
| And nothing left. | 25 |
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| But I account it worth | |
| All pangs of fair hopes crossed— | |
| All loves and honors lost,— | |
| To gain the heavens, at cost | |
| Of losing earth. | 30 |
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| So, lest I be inclined | |
| To render ill for ill,— | |
| Henceforth in me instil, | |
| O God, a sweet good-will | |
| To all mankind. | 35 |
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