 | The lost pleiad ; and other poems |  |
TO SHAKSPEARE DYING.
“Good night, sweet prince!
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
Horatio to Hamlet Dying.
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
Horatio to Hamlet Dying.
By the shore of time, now lying
On the inky flood beneath,
Patiently, thou soul undying!
Waits for thee the Ship of Death!
On the inky flood beneath,
Patiently, thou soul undying!
Waits for thee the Ship of Death!
In thy body's temple shining,
Like a star in séréne night,
Thy pure soul, to us repining,
Burns to reach the Land of Light!
Like a star in séréne night,
Thy pure soul, to us repining,
Burns to reach the Land of Light!
He who on that vessel starteth,
Sailing from the sons of men—
To the friends from whom he parteth,
Never more returns again!
Sailing from the sons of men—
To the friends from whom he parteth,
Never more returns again!
From her mast no flag is flying,
To denote from whence she came;
She is known unto the dying—
Azrael is her captain's name.
To denote from whence she came;
She is known unto the dying—
Azrael is her captain's name.
Not a word was ever spoken,
On that dark, unfathomed sea;
Silence there is so unbroken,
She herself seems not to be!
On that dark, unfathomed sea;
Silence there is so unbroken,
She herself seems not to be!
Silent thus, in darkness lonely,
Does the soul put forth alone,
While the wings of Angels only
Waft her to a Land unknown!
Does the soul put forth alone,
While the wings of Angels only
Waft her to a Land unknown!
Soul of Poet! never fear thee,
For thy voyage will be short;
Wings of Angels soon shall bear thee
Onward to thy destined port.
For thy voyage will be short;
Wings of Angels soon shall bear thee
Onward to thy destined port.
Music, for a thousand ages,
Made on earth by thee for men,
Now transcribed on Angel's pages—
Thou shalt sing in Heaven again.
Made on earth by thee for men,
Now transcribed on Angel's pages—
Thou shalt sing in Heaven again.
Just as he is home forsaking—
Angels tending him in love—
Light above his soul is breaking—
Streaming from the heavens above!
Angels tending him in love—
Light above his soul is breaking—
Streaming from the heavens above!
Far away the Fields Elysian
Burst upon his raptured sight—
Angels, shining on his vision,
Come to welcome him to light!
Burst upon his raptured sight—
Angels, shining on his vision,
Come to welcome him to light!
Yonder is the Throne of Glory,
On that sapphire mount on high!
Christ, who once on earth was sorry,
Seated there, no more to die!
On that sapphire mount on high!
Christ, who once on earth was sorry,
Seated there, no more to die!
Like Elijah, full of wonder,
In his fiery chariot driven
Through the parting clouds of thunder,
From th' astonished world to Heaven;
In his fiery chariot driven
Through the parting clouds of thunder,
From th' astonished world to Heaven;
So, from out that ship, returning
Back again to earth, he rode
On the wings of Angels, burning
With their swiftness, up to God!
Back again to earth, he rode
On the wings of Angels, burning
With their swiftness, up to God!
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Angels now in joy are bringing
Flowers to deck thy pensive head—
Calling thee, while loudly singing,
Mightiest of the Mighty Dead!
Flowers to deck thy pensive head—
Calling thee, while loudly singing,
Mightiest of the Mighty Dead!
Oaky Grove, Ga., Nov. 1st, 1844.
| The lost pleiad ; and other poems | |