How we cite our quotes: (line)
Quote #1
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, (lines 7-8)
Most of the things in this poem are transient, passing easily way, including lives. Each generation rises up like a wave and then, the speaker implies, they crash on the shore and are gone. Not only do their deeds pass away, but also some of the deeds don't even have a chance to happen in the first place!