Mortals! around your destined heads br Thick fly the shafts of death, br And lo! the savage spoiler spreads br A thousand toils beneath. br br In vain we trifle with our fate, br Try every art in vain; br At best we but prolong the date, br And lengthen out our pain. br br Fondly we think all danger fled, br For death is ever nigh; br Outstrips our unavailing speed, br Or meets us as we fly. br br Thus the wrecked mariner may strive br Some desert shore to gain, br Secure of life, if he survive br The fury of the main. br br But there, to famine doomed a prey, br Finds the mistaken wretch br He but escaped the troubled sea, br To perish on the beach.