THE DEATH OF MY BRIDE

Adapted by Sir Tollemache Sinclair from an unknown author. « She is dead », they said to me, « Now come away, « Kiss and then leave her, for thy loved bride is clay », They smoothed her long tresses of light auburn hair ; On her torehead like marble, they laid them with care. O'er her beauteous eyes, which were fixed over much, They drew her thin lids, with a slow gentle touch, More tenderly then they closed up as well The dear pallid lips ; wouldthey Death's secretts tell ?

. n » uon^nn a Aé misc en musique, a été chantée par Léo Stormont, baryton anglais. On peut

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nonces par Nelson.

418 LARUES ET SOUniRES

About her calm brow and her beautiful face, They tied her long veil and her rich marriage lace, And drew o'er her blanched feet her tiny white shoes, But which were the whitest no eye could quite choose. O'er her lovely bosom, they crossed her small hands, « Come away », they entreated, « God grief understands ! » And then there was silence, the sad mourners there, Saw lying around her some white roses rare, And jasmine with many of the flowers she did prize, They said « As a dear form should rest, here she lies. » And they all held their breath as they left the dark room, With a long and sad glance at the doleful drear gloom. But I who'd long loved her too well to e'er dread The kind and the beautiful form which was dead. Then lighted my lamp, in the door turned the key. And shed tears, then again were alone, I and she. I and she, but at me she did not glance above. Though I murmured my passionate whispers of love, Then I said, « Oh ! cold lips, dearest one without breath, Ah ! is there no voice and no language of death ? » , « Is it dumb to the ear, and still to the sense, « But to heart and to soul distinct and intense ? « See, I listen now with my soul and my ear, « What was the great secret of dying, blest dear ? « Was it not by far the chief wonder of all, « That God should so soon let thy life's flower fall ? « Or was it to thee quite a marvel to feel, « An infinite calm o'er Death's agony steal ? « Was the miracle great to find then how deep « Far beyond all thy dreams sank downward that sleep ? « Did life back unroll its whole recoi'd so dear, « And show, as they say it does, all past things clear ? « And was it the ultimate phase of thy bliss, « To feel sure that true wisdom great love ever is ? « Ah ! my own best beloved, to me always dear, « I yearn from the depths of my soul thee to hear ! » « I eagerly listen, as if under some spell, « To hear thee from Heaven, there I trust we'll both dwell. « There must be a bright hope, when life flies so fleet, « Which made thee so calm from thy head to thy feet. » « I'd fain tell thee much, darling, if I were dead, « And thy scalding tears upon me were shed, « I'd speak, though the Angel of Death e'en had laid « His sword on my lips to keep speech unsaid ! « Thou wouldst not ask vainly with sad streaming eyes, « What moment of death is the greatest surprise ? « Which by far is the strangest and saddenest thing, « Of all the great wonders that dying must bring ? » The world yields no sympathy, but my dearest dead, With tenderest words, my crushed heart then fed, And with much emotion she then seemed to say With her soft touching voice in her dear gentle way : « The greatest of wonders is that I now hear, « And see thee and love thee, I'd fain kiss thee, dear, « I am now thine angel, who was thy loved bride, « Though my form is now dead, my soul's by thy side 1 »