The Common Doom

Victorious men of earth, no more Proclaim how wide your empires are: Though you bind in every shore, And your triumphs reach as far As night or day, Yet you proud monarchs must obey, And mingle with forgotten ashes, when Death calls ye to the crowd of common men. Devouring famine, plague, and war, Each able to undo mankind, Death’s servile emissaries are; Nor to these alone confined— He hath at will More quaint and subtle ways to kill. A smile or kiss, as he will use the art, Shall have the cunning skill to break a heart.

Collection: 
English
1616
James Shirley
Sub Title: 
V. Cautions and Complaints

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