[1] When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of
envy dies in me; when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful,
every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the
grief of parents on a tombstone, my heart melts with
compassion; when I see the tombs of the parents themselves,
I consider the vanity of grieving for those we must so
quickly follow; when I see kings lying by those who deposed
them, when I consider rival wits placed side by side, or
the holy men who divided the world with their contests and
disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the
little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind; when
I read the several dates of some that died as yesterday,
and some of six hundred years ago, I consider that great
day when we shall all be contemporaries and make our
appearance together.--_Addison._