IV. God gives us love. Something to love He lends us; but, when love is grown To ripeness, that on which it throve Falls off, and love is left alone. V. This is the curse of time. Alas! In grief I am not all unlearned; Once through mine own doors Death did pass; One went, who never hath returned. VI. He will not smile. not speak to me years his chair is seen Once more. Two Empty before us. That was he Without whose life I had not been. VII. Your loss is rarer; for this star Rose with you through a little arc Of heaven, nor having wandered far, I knew VIII. your brother: his mute dust I honor, and his living worth: A man more pure and bold and just Was never born into the earth. IX. I have not looked upon you nigh, Since that dear soul hath fallen asleep. Great Nature is more wise than I: I will not tell you not to weep. X. And though my own eyes fill with dew, Drawn from the spirit through the brain, I will not even preach to you, "Weep, weeping dulls the inward pain." XI. Let Grief be her own mistress still. She loveth her own anguish deep More than much pleasure. Let her will XII. I will not say "God's ordinance For that is not a common chance That takes away a noble mind. XIII. His memory long will live alone In all our hearts, as mournful light That broods above the fallen sun, And dwells in heaven half the night. XIV. Vain solace! Memory standing near Cast down her eyes, and in her throat Her voice seemed distant, and a tear XV. I wrote I know not what. In truth, How should I soothe you anyway, Who miss the brother of your youth? Yet something I did wish to say: XVI. For he too was a friend to me: Both are my friends, and my true breast Bleedeth for both; yet it may be That only silence suiteth best. XVII. Words weaker than your grief would make 'T were better I should cease; Grief more. Although myself could almost take The place of him that sleeps in peace : XVIII. Sleep sweetly, tender heart, in peace: While the stars burn, the moons increase, XIX. Sleep till the end, true soul and sweet. Nothing comes to thee new or strange. Sleep full of rest from head to feet; Lie still, dry dust, secure of change. You ask me, why, though ill at ease, Within this region I subsist, Whose spirits falter in the mist, And languish for the purple seas? It is the land that freemen till, That sober-suited Freedom chose, The land where, girt with friends or foes, A man may speak the thing he will; A land of settled government, A land of just and old renown, Where Freedom broadens slowly down From precedent to precedent: Where faction seldom gathers head, |