[Poems by Plato in] Essays including Biographies and Miscellaneous Pieces, in Prose and Poetry |
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THE GRAVE. |
 | [Poems by Plato in] Essays |  |
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THE GRAVE.
Who sleeps in silence 'neath this mound?
Whose dust does here repose?
Is it unholy, sinful ground,—
And blood upon the rose?
Whose dust does here repose?
Is it unholy, sinful ground,—
And blood upon the rose?
Does there a hero sleep beneath?
Some chief of spotless fame?
The flowrets here no fragrance breathe,
No marble speaks his name!
Some chief of spotless fame?
The flowrets here no fragrance breathe,
No marble speaks his name!
Does an historian's wither'd form,
Here lie so dark and low?
I hear no requiem but the storm,
No mournful sound of wo.
Here lie so dark and low?
I hear no requiem but the storm,
No mournful sound of wo.
Is it a humble, Christian child,
Who free from care lies here?
Around this spot, thus drear and wild—
And not one friendly tear!
Who free from care lies here?
Around this spot, thus drear and wild—
And not one friendly tear!
No,—the dust that moulders here enshrin'd,
Was here an infant heart,—
A wreath by beauty's hand entwin'd
Did love to it impart.
Was here an infant heart,—
A wreath by beauty's hand entwin'd
Did love to it impart.
The parents wept about its grave,
And friends its loss did mourn;
But tears could not their darling save,
It died,—they thought it wrong.
And friends its loss did mourn;
But tears could not their darling save,
It died,—they thought it wrong.
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