Stones from The Quarry or, Moods of Mind. By Henry Browne [i.e. Henry Ellison] |
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THE EARLY DEATHS OF RAPHÁEL,
MOZART, KEATS, &c. |
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 | Stones from The Quarry |  |
THE EARLY DEATHS OF RAPHÁEL, MOZART, KEATS, &c.
O Death, thou terrible reaper! why such speed?Could'st thou not spare the stately ears that stand
Above the level grain, so full and grand;
That take the first and latter sun, and lead
The hopes of harvest; but must like the weed
Low lay them, and destroy them out of hand,
Ere they could ripen to full self-command,
And gloriously mellowing run to seed?
Why dost thou spare mechanic hand and brain,
That scarcely parts his function from the brute,
To let us see, then snatch away again,
And hear, an angel, but to strike him mute!
Haply such gifts (too precious to retain)
Heaven's loans are; brief, their value so to suit!
| Stones from The Quarry | |