Death be proud that you prevail

easily against the dull.

Their sturdiest stupidity

You can with quiet art annul.

Death be proud to dignify

The black perplexities of man:

You bless with marble monuments

His anxious and unfinished plan.

Death be proud that you relieve

All twisted bodies of their weight,

Giving them rest, wherein they lie

As they have dreamed of lying, straight.

Death be proud: for a little while

You had an eager enemy,

In battle-song so eloquent

That where he was we ran to be.

Death be not proud to see us mourn

Beneath your ramparts where he fell.

He never hoped to break your sword.

He only wished to battle well.