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104
LECONTE DE LISLE
July 17, 1894
His verse was carved in ivory forms, undying
As those that deck the marble Phidian frieze.
Over his plaintive hearse to-night is flying
A phantom genius from the Cyclades.
As those that deck the marble Phidian frieze.
Over his plaintive hearse to-night is flying
A phantom genius from the Cyclades.
It hovers till our idle rites be over;
And then will bear him in its arms away
To islands cinctured by the sun, their lover,
And spicy woodlands thrilled with fiery day.
And then will bear him in its arms away
To islands cinctured by the sun, their lover,
And spicy woodlands thrilled with fiery day.
There his dark hours of toil shall drop, forgotten;
There all he loved, simple and calm and grand—
All the white creatures by his Muse begotten—
Shall cluster round him in a stately band.
There all he loved, simple and calm and grand—
All the white creatures by his Muse begotten—
Shall cluster round him in a stately band.
105
Then shall he smile, appeased by sovereign beauty,
Contented that he strove and waited long,
Since in those worlds where loveliness is duty
His bronze and marble leap to life and song.
Contented that he strove and waited long,
Since in those worlds where loveliness is duty
His bronze and marble leap to life and song.
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