| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 7. Death’s Epitaph |
| | | From “The House of Night” |
| | | By Philip Freneau |
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| DEATH in this tomb his weary bones hath laid, | |
| Sick of dominion o’er the human kind; | |
| Behold what devastations he hath made, | |
| Survey the millions by his arm confined. | |
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| “Six thousand years has sovereign sway been mine, | 5 |
| None but myself can real glory claim; | |
| Great Regent of the world I reigned alone, | |
| And princes trembled when my mandate came. | |
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| “Vast and unmatched throughout the world, my fame | |
| Takes place of gods, and asks no mortal date— | 10 |
| No: by myself, and by the heavens, I swear | |
| Not Alexander’s name is half so great. | |
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| “Nor swords nor darts my prowess could withstand, | |
| All quit their arms, and bowed to my decree,— | |
| Even mighty Julius died beneath my hand, | 15 |
| For slaves and Cæsars were the same to me!” | |
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| Traveller, wouldst thou his noblest trophies seek, | |
| Search in no narrow spot obscure for those; | |
| The sea profound, the surface of all land, | |
| Is moulded with the myriads of his foes. | 20 |
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