33. The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r, 34. And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, 35. Awaits alike th' inevitable hour. 36. The paths of glory lead but to the grave. Notes (1) Boast of heraldry: Proud talk about the aristocratic or noble roots of one's family; snobbery. Science that traced family lines of royal and noble personages and designed coats of arms for them. (2) Pomp: ceremonies, rituals, and splendid surroundings of nobles and royals. (3) Pomp of pow'r: alliteration. (4) E'er: ever. General meaning of stanza: Every person—no matter how important, powerful, or wealthy—ends up the same, dead.
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