How sleep the brave, who sink to rest

By all their country’s wishes blest!

When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,

Returns to deck their hallow’d mold,

She there shall dress a sweeter sod

Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod.

By fairy hands their knell is rung,

By forms unseen their dirge is sung;

There Honor comes, a pilgrim grey,

To bless the turf that wraps their clay;

And Freedom shall a-while repair,

To dwell a weeping hermit there!

Born on December 25, 1721, William Collins was an English poet and author of Odes on Several Descriptive and Allegorical Subjects.