IX.
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Of all tales ’tis the saddest — and more sad,Because it makes us smile: his hero’s right,And still pursues the right; — to curb the bad,His only object, and ’gainst odds to fight,His guerdon: ’tis his virtue makes him mad!
But his adventures form a sorry sight; —
A sorrier still is the great moral taughtBy that real Epic unto all who have thought.
X.
Redressing injury, revenging wrong,
To aid the damsel and destroy the caitiff;Opposing single the united strong,
From foreign yoke to free the helpless native; —Alas! must noblest views, like an old song,
Be for mere Fancy’s sport a theme creative?A jest, a riddle, Fame through thin and thicksought ?