WOLFE. THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE. NOT a drum was heard, not a funeral note, O'er the grave where our hero we buried. We buried him darkly at dead of night, No useless coffin enclosed his breast, Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him; But he lay like a warrior taking his rest, With his martial cloak around him. Few and short were the prayers we said, And we spoke not a word of sorrow: We thought as we hollowed his narrow bed, That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his head, And we far away on the billow! Lightly they'll talk of the spirit that's gone, In the grave where a Briton has laid him. But half of our heavy task was done, When the clock struck the hour for retiring; And we heard the distant and random gun That the foe was sullenly firing. Slowly and sadly we laid him down, From the field of his fame fresh and gory; We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone, But we left him alone with his glory! STANZAS. If I had thought thou couldst have died, I might not weep for thee; But I forgot when by thy side, And still upon that face I look, But when I speak, thou dost not say, If thou wouldst stay, e'en as thou art, I still might press thy silent heart, And there I lay thee in thy grave And I am now alone! I do not think, where'er thou art, And I, perhaps, may sooth this heart, Yet there was round thee such a dawn MRS. HEMANS. THE HOUR OF DEATH LEAVES have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the North-wind's breath, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death! Day is for mortal care, Eve for glad meetings round the joyous hearth, Night for the dreams of sleep, the voice of prayer; But all for thee, thou mightiest of the earth! The banquet hath its hour, Its feverish hour of mirth, and song, and wine; Youth and the opening rose May look like things too glorious for decay, And smile at thee!-but thou art not of those That wait the ripened bloom to seize their prey! |