A Death-Scene

'O Day! he cannot dieWhen thou so fair art shining!O Sun, in such a glorious sky,So tranquilly declining;

'He cannot leave thee now,While fresh west winds are blowing,And all around his youthful browThy cheerful light is glowing!

'Edward, awake, awake—The golden evening gleamsWarm and bright on Arden's lake—Arouse thee from thy dreams!

'Beside thee, on my knee,My dearest friend, I prayThat thou, to cross the eternal sea,Wouldst yet one hour delay:

'I hear its billows roar—I see them foaming high;But no glimpse of a further shoreHas blest my straining eye.'Believe not what they urgeOf Eden isles beyond;Turn back, from that tempestuous surge,To thy own native land.

'It is not death, but painThat struggles in thy breast—Nay, rally, Edward, rouse again;I cannot let thee rest!'

One long look, that sore reproved meFor the woe I could not bear—One mute look of suffering moved meTo repent my useless prayer:

And, with sudden check, the heavingOf distraction passed away;Not a sign of further grievingStirred my soul that awful day.

Paled, at length, the sweet sun setting;Sunk to peace the twilight breeze:Summer dews fell softly, wettingGlen, and glade, and silent trees.

Then his eyes began to weary,Weighed beneath a mortal sleep;And their orbs grew strangely dreary,Clouded, even as they would weep.But they wept not, but they changed not,Never moved, and never closed;Troubled still, and still they ranged not—Wandered not, nor yet reposed!

So I knew that he was dying—Stooped, and raised his languid head;Felt no breath, and heard no sighing,So I knew that he was dead.