54
l'ariccia. life in death.
When lover's faith is sung in courts above,
Low veiled thy virgin brow and hushed thy lyre.
Low veiled thy virgin brow and hushed thy lyre.
Some say that death and sleep are twins: have they
E'er seen Death clothed in garments quaint and rare
Or watched the living sunshine, laughing, play
On the cold polished brow and waveless hair?
E'er seen Death clothed in garments quaint and rare
Or watched the living sunshine, laughing, play
On the cold polished brow and waveless hair?
This dumb negation, with the solemn sky
Shining on its white lips, from all around
Divorced as far as some lone mystery,
With marble face amid the desert found.
Shining on its white lips, from all around
Divorced as far as some lone mystery,
With marble face amid the desert found.
This chill prophetic Presence claims no tie
With the bright world, around, above, beneath,—
Blank and austere, a crownless majesty,
Inscrutable—immitigable Death!
With the bright world, around, above, beneath,—
Blank and austere, a crownless majesty,
Inscrutable—immitigable Death!
And yet she lives: for ever and for ever
Still floats the solemn hymn throughout the dome
As if it sought, with passionate endeavour,
To reach all hearts and bear its glad truth home.
Still floats the solemn hymn throughout the dome
As if it sought, with passionate endeavour,
To reach all hearts and bear its glad truth home.
