The Downing legends : Stories in Rhyme :: :: University of Virginia Library

But Esther saw with other eyes,
For sorrow knows the second-sight;
And loving souls, though clad in white,
Behold with love's alert surmise.
She saw them soaring hand in hand,
Their glances mingled, eye to eye,
Their breath commingled, sigh to sigh,
Like creatures born of Paphian land,
Who held each other far too dear
To question whether Eden's strand
They neared, or Hell's cimmerian mere.

She saw them floating, far above,
On beaming clouds of delicate lawn,
Around them many a kissing dove
And dovelike spirit, winged with love,
Who guided them to meet the dawn
As tenderly as angels guide
Forgiven souls through Heaventide.

Adown the kindling East they shone;
And there, a welkin's width away,
They lingered glorious; seemed to stay
One breath upon a dazzling throne;
One moment reigned; then sudden fell
For aye; while Esther wept, “Farewell!”