AFTER A DUEL.

By laurels upon your brow New-placed, our worth is reckoned: You are a hero now, And I,—a dead man’s second. Your prowess was most fair, And fairer yet I own it; A majesty lies there, And you have overthrown it. To dexterous hands was given Your weapon giant-hewing; The lightning out from heaven Had scarcely dared its doing! For balm on wounds aghast Supreme in you my trust is; Solicitous to the last, Your pity tempered justice. Thanks, to my final breath, For challenge, thrust, and parry. With this pale weight of death Your living praise I carry. I see no hate abhorr’d, But courtesy acting thro’ you: The Devil, sweet my lord, Be thus considerate to you! In honor, after a lapse, Dare you to combat sprightly, Thenceforth you chance mishaps To superintend,—politely.