ashes (n.)
Give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
Something the heart must have to cherish,
Must love and joy and sorrow learn;
Something with passion clasp, or perish
And in itself to ashes burn.
What mighty ills have not been done by woman!
Who was 't betrayed the Capitol?—A woman!
Who lost Mark Antony the world?—A woman!
Who was the cause of a long ten years' war,
And laid at last old Troy in ashes?—Woman!
Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman!
Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes and pompous in the grave.
To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late;
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods?
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection.
And from his ashes may be made
The violet of his native land.
E'en from the tomb the voice of nature cries,
E'en in our ashes live their wonted fires.
