Earth’s Transitory Things Decay

Earth’s tran­si­to­ry things de­cay

Its pomps

its plea­sures pass away;

But the sweet me­mo­ry of the good

Survives in the vi­cis­si­tude.

As ’midst the ev­er roll­ing sea

The eter­nal isles es­tab­lished be

’Gainst which the surg­es of the main

Fret

dash

and break them­selves in vain—

As in the heav­ens

the urns di­vine

Of gold­en light

for ev­er shine;

Though clouds may dark­en

storms may rage

They still shine on from age to age—

So through the ocean tide of years

The me­mo­ry of the just ap­pears;

So through the tem­pest and the gloom

The good man’s vir­tues light the tomb.

Happy the right­eous! come what may

Though Heav­en dis­solve and earth de­cay;

Happy the right­eous man! for he

Belongs to im­mor­tal­ity.