The Death of Marcus Aurelius

The Death of Marcus Aurelius

Monday, October 23, 2023

The Last Conqueror


"The Last Conqueror" 

James Shirley (1596-1666) 

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 and 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. 

IMAGE: Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Triumph of Death (c. 1562) 



3 comments:

  1. I think I'm going to be a skeleton with a momento mori banner for Halloween this year. (Having kids means I get to dress up too...)

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    1. There are a set of prints by William Strang in the queue that can further inspire you! I will move them up to tomorrow, given how soon Halloween is coming . . . and be careful not to spell it wrong on any banner: memento mori. Not a criticism, just a friendly correction ;-)

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    2. My spelling is, and always shall be, atrocious. Spell check is my best friend.

      Thank you for the correction, and I look forward to seeing the prints.

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