Learn ye nations of the earth br The condition of your birth, br Now be taught your feeble state, br Know, that all must yield to Fate! br br If the mournful Rover, Death, br Say but once-resign your breath- br Vainly of escape you dream, br You must pass the Stygian stream. br br Could the stoutest overcome br Death's assault, and baffle Doom, br Hercules had both withstood br Undiseas'd by Nessus' blood. br br Ne'er had Hector press'd the plain br By a trick of Pallas slain, br Nor the Chief to Jove allied br By Achilles' phantom died. br br Could enchantments life prolong, br Circe, saved by magic song, br Still had liv'd, and equal skill br Had preserv'd Medea still. br br Dwelt in herbs and drugs a pow'r br To avert Man's destin'd hour, br Learn'd Machaon should have known br Doubtless to avert his own. br br Chiron had survived the smart br Of the Hydra-tainted dart, br And Jove's bolt had been with ease br Foil'd by Asclepiades. br br Thou too, Sage! of whom forlorn br Helicon and Cirrha mourn, br Still had'st filled thy princely place, br Regent of the gowned race, br br Had'st advanc'd to higher fame br Still, thy much-ennobled name, br Nor in Charon's skiff explored br The Tartarean gulph abhorr'd. br br But resentful Proserpine, br Jealous of thy skill divine, br Snapping short thy vital thread br Thee too number'd with the Dead.