By—what except to envy must man's wit

Impute that sure implacable release

Of life from warmth and joy? But death means peace.

X

Noon is the conqueror,—not a spray, nor leaf,

Nor herb, nor blossom but has rendered up

Its morning dew: the valley seemed one cup

Of cloud-smoke, but the vapor's reign was brief;

Sun-smitten, see, it hangs—the filmy haze—

Gray-garmenting the herbless mountain-side,