That heavenly music! what is it I hear?
The notes of the harpers ring sweet in mine ear!
And see, soft unfolding those portals of gold,
The King all arrayed in his beauty behold!
Oh give me, oh give me, the wings of a dove,
To adore him—be near him—enwrapt with his love;
I but wait for the summons, I list for the word—
Alleluia—Amen—evermore with the Lord!
WILLIAM AUGUSTUS MÜHLENBERG.
I strove with none, for none was worth my strife;
Nature I loved, and next to Nature, Art; I warmed both hands before the fire of life,—
It sinks, and I am ready to depart.
WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR.
Alas! that men must see
Love, before Death! Else they content might be
With their short breath; Aye, glad, when the pale sun
Showed restless day was done,
And endless Rest begun.
Glad, when with strong, cool hand
Death clasped their own, And with a strange command
Hushed every moan; Glad to have finished pain,
And labor wrought in vain,
Blurred by Sin's deepening stain.
But Love's insistent voice
Bids self to flee— "Live that I may rejoice,
Live on, for me!" So, for Love's cruel mind,
Men fear this Rest to find,
Nor know great Death is kind!
MARGARETTA WADE DELAND.