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Ozymandias(1818)

Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveller from an antique land,
MeterI met a traveller from an antique land,

Note on line 1: 4B4V accepts a modern pronunciation of “antique,” but Shelley probably put stress on the word’s first syllable, where we still find it in a surviving cousin, “antic.”

Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
MeterWho said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert…. Near them, on the sand,
MeterStand in the desert…. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
MeterHalf sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
MeterAnd wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
MeterTell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
MeterWhich yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
MeterThe hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
MeterAnd on the pedestal these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
MeterMy name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!
MeterLook on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
MeterNothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
MeterOf that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
MeterThe lone and level sands stretch far away.

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