Of thy clear eye, that ever shone to bless!

—Not now! ’twill not be now!—my aching sight,

Drinks from that fount a flood of tenderness,

Bearing all strength away!

Leave me!—thou com’st between my heart and Heaven;

I would be still, in voiceless prayer to die!—

Why must our souls thus love, and then be riven?

Return! thy parting wakes mine agony!

Oh, yet awhile delay!

THE MESSAGE TO THE DEAD.