This Poem will certainly not bear a literal interpretation. We cannot suppose that the writer ever looked on the face of his friend after death; for nearly four months had elapsed before the body reached England.
What he saw, therefore, was with “the mind’s eye.” And as Death often brings out a likeness,[49] which was never before recognized; so, contemplating the character of the departed, he sees
“Thy likeness to the wise below,
Thy kindred with the great of old.”
I can perceive worth in thee equal to theirs!
The last stanza is mystical; the darkness of death hides much; what he can see he cannot or will not explain: enough, that thou hast made even this darkness of death beautiful by thy presence.
LXXV.
The Poet leaves the praises of his friend unexpressed, because no words can duly convey them; and the greatness thus unrecorded must be guessed, by the measure of the survivor’s grief.
Indeed, he does not care
“in these fading days
To raise a cry that lasts not long,
And round thee with the breeze of song,
To stir a little dust[50] of praise.”
The world only applauds accomplished success, and does not care for what might have been done, had opportunity been given. It is therefore sufficient that silence should guard Hallam’s fame here; because the writer is assured, that what he is elsewhere doing