David Diamond - All is vanity

Fame, wisdom, love, and power were mine
And health and youth possess'd me;
My goblets blush'd from every vine
And lovely forms carress'd me;
I sunn'd my heart in beauty's eyes
And felt my soul grow tender;
All earth can give, or mortal prize
Was mine of regal splendour

I strive to number o'er what days
Remembrance can discover
Which all that life or earth displays
Would lure me to live over
Thеre rose no day, therе roll'd no hour
Of pleasure unembitter'd:
And not a trapping deck'd my power
That gall'd not while it glitter'd

The serpent of the field, by art
And spells, is won from harming;
But that which coils around the heart
Oh! who hath power of charming?
It will not list to wisdom's lore
Nor music's voice can lure it;
But there it stings for evermore
The soul that must endure it