Classic Poem

  A. Had he but lived
With Fortune for his mate, and such a stage
To play his part on, as some Spirits have had,
He would have been—
  B. A king?
  A. A man! what else,
King, Emperor, Tyrant, Shah, would matter not.
He would have been—a N AME ; such as of old
Grew into Gods!
  B. And so he died?
  A. He died,
And not a verse did honour him. His doom
Was writ already; and his star was called
—Oblivion!