Poem by Charles Lamb

Love, Death, and Reputation

A FABLE

Once on a time, Love, Death, and Reputation,
Three travellers, a tour together went;
And, after many a long perambulation,
Agreed to part by mutual consent.

Death said: "My fellow tourists, I am going
To seek for harvests in the embattled plain;
Where drums are beating, and loud trumpets blowing,
There you'll be sure to meet with me again."

Love said: "My friends, I mean to spend my leisure
With some young couple, fresh in Hymen's bands;
Or 'mongst relations, who in equal measure
Have had bequeathëd to them house or lands."

But Reputation said: "If once we sever,
Our chance of future meeting is but vain:
Who parts from me, must look to part for ever,
For Reputation lost comes not again."

1. Lines Addressed from London, to Sara and S.T.C. at Bristol, in the Summer of 1796
2. David
3. Good Temper
4. Cleanliness
5. Lines Addressed to Lieut. R.W.H. Hardy, R.N.

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