Note 17 — Early Poems (continued 2)

After this in 1833 and in 1842 are the following stanzas, afterwards excised:— “By him great Pompey dwarfs and suffers pain, A mortal man before immortal Mars; The glories of great Julius lapse and wane, And shrink from suns to stars. “That man of all the men I ever knew Most touched my fancy. O! what days and nights We had in Egypt, ever reaping new Harvest of ripe delights. “Realm-draining revels! Life was one long feast, What wit! what words! what sweet words, only made Less sweet by the kiss that broke ’em, liking best To be so richly stayed! “What dainty strifes, when fresh from war’s alarms, My Hercules, my gallant Antony, My mailed captain leapt into my arms, Contented there to die! “And in those arms he died: I heard my name Sighed forth with life: then I shook off all fear: Oh, what a little snake stole Caesar’s fame! What else was left? look here!” “With that she tore her robe apart,” etc.