This sobbing and this sighing,
This laughing and this crying,
This living and this dying--
Man's mortal history!

Why this wild contention?
This mocking, cruel invention--
What the deep intention?
Who shall give replies?
Demons wildly sporting,
God's beautiful distorting,
Or His own hand extorting
Sin-born penalties?



IV.


Those with whom I started
Oceans wide have parted:
Some are broken-hearted,
Some lie in the clay;
Those I once heard prattle,
For whom I shook the rattle,
Engaged in life's vain battle,
Push me off the way.

The world's laugh it jeers me,
Their looks they seem to fear me,