V.
I saw them laughing, smiling gladly,—
I saw them ruin’d utterly;
I heard them weeping, dying sadly,—
And yet I utter’d not a sigh.
Each corpse I as a mourner follow’d,
Yea, to the churchyard follow’d I,
And then—with appetite I swallow’d,
My noontide meal, I’ll not deny.
I now recall that band long perish’d,
With feelings sadden’d and oppress’d:
Like sudden glowing love once cherish’d
They strangely storm within my breast.
And most ’tis Juliet’s tears so burning
That in my memory spring to light;
My sadness turns to ceaseless yearning,
I call upon her day and night.
In feverish dreams, with soft emotion
The faded flower oft comes again;
Methinks a posthumous devotion
To my love’s glow it offers then.
O gentle phantom, clasp me often
With strong and ever stronger power;
Unto my lips press thine, and soften
The bitterness of this last hour.