Poems (Douglas)/In Memoriam
For works with similar titles, see In Memoriam.
In Memoriam,
WRITTEN AT AYR ON THE DAY OF THE INTERMENT OF THE DEEPLY LAMENTED EARL OF EGLINTON AND WINTON.
Upon the solemn hush sad sounds are stealing
Slow, mournful tollings of the passing bell;
Unopened marts, and grief looks, are revealing
How dearly loved was he whose is the knell.
A drooping banner from the tower is floating,
And half-raised pendants from each ship mast fall;
The rank of the illustrious dead denoting,
And reverential grief, sustained by all.
Slow, mournful tollings of the passing bell;
Unopened marts, and grief looks, are revealing
How dearly loved was he whose is the knell.
A drooping banner from the tower is floating,
And half-raised pendants from each ship mast fall;
The rank of the illustrious dead denoting,
And reverential grief, sustained by all.
In courtly halls a mighty shadow's lying,
Filling each joy-scene with a sudden gloom;
In humbler mansions there are tears and sighing,
Deep as e'er trembled o'er a brother's tomb.
"Gone!" cries the universal voice of mourning,
"Our Eglinton, the courteous, free, and kind;
Our prince of peers, his lofty sphere adorning,
Noble in rank, but nobler still in mind."
Filling each joy-scene with a sudden gloom;
In humbler mansions there are tears and sighing,
Deep as e'er trembled o'er a brother's tomb.
"Gone!" cries the universal voice of mourning,
"Our Eglinton, the courteous, free, and kind;
Our prince of peers, his lofty sphere adorning,
Noble in rank, but nobler still in mind."
Scarcely have faded each triumphant measure
Which rose in honour of his natal day,
'Till deepest woe usurps the place of pleasure,
And festal garbs are changed for black array.
"Dead—dead!" is uttered, to the tomb they bear him
Mysterious heaven! why are we thus bereft?
Ill can the rich, the poor, the country spare him—
Why was he taken and the worthless left?
Which rose in honour of his natal day,
'Till deepest woe usurps the place of pleasure,
And festal garbs are changed for black array.
"Dead—dead!" is uttered, to the tomb they bear him
Mysterious heaven! why are we thus bereft?
Ill can the rich, the poor, the country spare him—
Why was he taken and the worthless left?
He whose great heart was filled to overflowing
With every gen'rous and ennobling grace;
Whose worth, a glory on high rank bestowing,
Has left a memory time can ne'er efface.
As fellow-beings looked he on all classes,
By ties connected rank could not divide;
And to upraise, improve, and bless the masses,
Was Eglinton's aristocratic pride.
With every gen'rous and ennobling grace;
Whose worth, a glory on high rank bestowing,
Has left a memory time can ne'er efface.
As fellow-beings looked he on all classes,
By ties connected rank could not divide;
And to upraise, improve, and bless the masses,
Was Eglinton's aristocratic pride.
To him, the great and good, 'twas no descending
To join the people in their healthful sports;
His affability, so rare, but tending
To add to dignity, which shone in courts.
Tears such as ne'er weep titled ones are falling,
"Lord Eglinton!" is breathed in solemn woe;
"Many thy virtues—sudden came death's calling—
Yet few such life-spent usefulness could show."
To join the people in their healthful sports;
His affability, so rare, but tending
To add to dignity, which shone in courts.
Tears such as ne'er weep titled ones are falling,
"Lord Eglinton!" is breathed in solemn woe;
"Many thy virtues—sudden came death's calling—
Yet few such life-spent usefulness could show."
Long shall thy death, by lip of song recorded,
Be borne in sorrow Time's swift stream along;
But never can thy genuine worth be worded,
Or grief so universal told in song.
Peace to thy ashes! May thy pure life ended
To emulation stir those left behind.
Peace to thy dust! now to the vault attended;
Joy to thy spirit, to its loved ones joined!
Be borne in sorrow Time's swift stream along;
But never can thy genuine worth be worded,
Or grief so universal told in song.
Peace to thy ashes! May thy pure life ended
To emulation stir those left behind.
Peace to thy dust! now to the vault attended;
Joy to thy spirit, to its loved ones joined!
FINIS.