Hymns for Childhood/Epitaph on Two Brothers

by Felicia Hemans

EPITAPH

OVER THE GRAVE OF TWO BROTHERS,

A CHILD AND A YOUTH.

---

Thou, that canst gaze upon thine own fair boy,
    And hear his prayer's low murmur at thy knee,
And o'er his slumber bend in breathless joy,
    Come to this tomb! it hath a voice for thee!
Pray!—thou art blest—ask strength for sorrow's hour,
    Love, deep as thine, lays here its broken flower.

Thou that art gathering from the smile of youth,
    Thy thousand hopes—rejoicing to behold
All the heart's depths before thee bright with truth,
    All the mind's treasure silently unfold;
Look on this tomb!—for thee, too, speaks the grave,
    Where God hath seal'd the fount of hope he gave.