On that great day the solemn trump shall sound,
(That trump which once in heaven on man's revolt
Convok'd the astonish'd seraphs) at whose voice
Th' unpeopled graves shall pour forth all their dead.
Then shall th' assembled nations of the earth
From every quarter, at the judgment-seat
Unite; Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks,
Parthians, and they who dwelt on Tyber's banks,
Names fam'd of old: or who of later age,
Chinese and Russian, Mexican and Turk,
Tenant the wide Terrene; and they who pitch
Their tents on Niger's banks; or where the sun
Pours on Golconda's spires his early light,
Drink Ganges' sacred stream. At once shall rise,
Whom distant ages to each other's sight
Had long denied; before the throne shall kneel
Some great progenitor, while at his side
Stands his descendant thro' a thousand lines.
Whate'er their nation, and whate'er their rank,
Heroes and patriarchs, slaves and scepter'd kings,
With equal eye the God of all shall see;
And judge with equal love. What tho' the great
With costly pomp and aromatic sweets
Embalm'd his poor remains; or thro' the dome
A thousand tapers shed their gloomy light,
While solemn organs to his parting soul
Chaunted slow orisons? Say, by what mark
Dost thou discern him from that lowly swain
Whose mouldering bones beneath the thorn bound turf
Long lay neglected? — All at once shall rise;
But not to equal glory: for, alas!
With howlings dire and execrations loud
Some wail their fatal birth. — First among these
Behold the mighty murtherers of mankind;
They who in sport whole kingdoms slew; or they
Who to the tottering pinnacle of power
Waded thro' seas of blood! How will they curse
The madness of ambition; how lament
Their dear-bought laurels; when the widow'd wife
And childless mother at the judgment-seat
Plead trumpet-tongu'd against them! — Here are they
Who sunk an aged father to the grave:
Or with unkindness hard and cold disdain
Slighted a brother's sufferings: — Here are they
Whom fraud and skilful treachery long secur'd;
Who from the infant virgin tore her dower,
And eat the orphan's bread: — who spent their stores
In selfish luxury; or o'er their gold
Prostrate and pale ador'd the useless heap. —
Here too who stain'd the chaste connubial bed; —
Who mix'd the poisonous bowl; — or broke the ties
Of hospitable friendship: — and the wretch
Whose listless soul sick with the cares of life
Unsummon'd to the presence of his God
Rush'd in with insult rude. How would they joy
Once more to visit earth; and, tho' oppress'd
With all that Pain and Famine can inflict,
Pant up the hill of life? Vain wish! the Judge
Pronounces doom eternal on their heads,
Perpetual punishment. Seek not to know
What punishment! for that th' Almighty Will
Has hid from mortal eyes: and shall vain man
With curious search refin'd presume to pry
Into thy secrets, Father! No: let him
With humble patience all thy works adore,
And walk in all thy paths: so shall his meed
Be great in heaven, so haply shall he 'scape
The immortal worm and never-ceasing fire.