l'ariccia. life in death.
55
Not the dark moral of the Pagan world,
Its painted cheeks and false illusions fair,
Now here, now past, as when a banner furled
No longer spreads its blazoned pomp to air.
Its painted cheeks and false illusions fair,
Now here, now past, as when a banner furled
No longer spreads its blazoned pomp to air.
For them this life was as a dream, and death
The one reality; with us nought dies.
Beauty to them but transitory breath,
To us th' eternal smile of paradise!
The one reality; with us nought dies.
Beauty to them but transitory breath,
To us th' eternal smile of paradise!
These gracious scenes, which with a rare delight
And charm divine have banqueted the eye,
Wore chastened hues to them, and shone less bright,
Sharing the doom of frail mortality.
And charm divine have banqueted the eye,
Wore chastened hues to them, and shone less bright,
Sharing the doom of frail mortality.
With us they claim a bright inheritance,
And shine emancipate from Death's control—
They perish not with perishable sense,
But live eternal in th' eternal soul.
And shine emancipate from Death's control—
They perish not with perishable sense,
But live eternal in th' eternal soul.
And in those spheres towards which our spirits yearn,
What magic memories will oft arise!
What magic memories will oft arise!
