Page 562

Fitz-Greene Halleck. (1790–1867) (continued)

5825

    Come to the bridal chamber, Death!
  Come to the mother’s, when she feels
For the first time her first-born’s breath!
  Come when the blessed seals
That close the pestilence are broke,
And crowded cities wail its stroke!
Come in consumption’s ghastly form,
The earthquake shock, the ocean storm!
Come when the heart beats high and warm,
  With banquet song, and dance, and wine!
And thou art terrible!—the tear,
The groan, the knell, the pall, the bier,
And all we know or dream or fear
  Of agony are thine.

Marco Bozzaris.

5826

    But to the hero, when his sword
  Has won the battle for the free,
Thy voice sounds like a prophet’s word;
And in its hollow tones are heard
  The thanks of millions yet to be.

Marco Bozzaris.

5827

One of the few, the immortal names,
That were not born to die.

Marco Bozzaris.

5828

    Such graves as his are pilgrim shrines,
  Shrines to no code or creed confined,—
The Delphian vales, the Palestines,
  The Meccas of the mind.

Burns.

5829

    Green be the turf above thee,
  Friend of my better days!
None knew thee but to love thee, 1
  Nor named thee but to praise.

On the Death of Joseph Rodman Drake.

5830

There is an evening twilight of the heart,
When its wild passion-waves are lulled to rest.

Twilight.

Note 1.
See Rogers, Quotation 2. [back]

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