 | Flotsam and Jetsam |  |
71
TWO BANQUETS.
(On the Death of D. C. and S. C., 1854.)
Feast set, lights gleaming, music gushing;
Two blooming boys with happy faces,
On each young breast Hope's rosebud blushing,
Prepare to take their places.
Two blooming boys with happy faces,
On each young breast Hope's rosebud blushing,
Prepare to take their places.
But see, with solemn kindly gesture,
Beckons the Seneschal so hoary:
‘Not yours these seats—this humble vesture;
Not yours this homely glory!
Beckons the Seneschal so hoary:
‘Not yours these seats—this humble vesture;
Not yours this homely glory!
‘Come from a Banquet brief and specious,
Come to a far imperial palace,
Where glows the board with cates more precious,
With richer draughts the chalice.
Come to a far imperial palace,
Where glows the board with cates more precious,
With richer draughts the chalice.
72
‘There brighter lights and loftier pleasance
And more illustrious guests await you;
There the Great King's pervading presence
With ampler smile shall sate you.
And more illustrious guests await you;
There the Great King's pervading presence
With ampler smile shall sate you.
‘Come, young twin hearts, without dejection—
Fair double Star, disparting never,
One halo of divine affection
Shall circle both for ever!’—
Fair double Star, disparting never,
One halo of divine affection
Shall circle both for ever!’—
Ah! summons to be heard with gladness,
Though Life indeed a feast so gay were
But call it toil and strife and sadness—
How doubly happy they were!
Though Life indeed a feast so gay were
But call it toil and strife and sadness—
How doubly happy they were!
| Flotsam and Jetsam | |