Fell from his nerveless fingers, and his eye He drew a phial from beneath his head, And with a shudder in his skeleton frame, I did not think to die Till I had finished what I had to do ; I thought to pierce th' eternal secret through I felt-Oh God! it seemeth even now This cannot be the death-dew on my brow. And yet it is-I feel Of this dull sickness at my heart afraid; And in my eyes the death-sparks flash and fade ; Over my bosom like a frozen hand, And this is death! But why Feel I this wild recoil? It cannot be Th' immortal spirit shuddereth to be free! Like a chain'd eaglet at its parent's call? Yet thus to pass away !— To live but for a hope that mocks at last― To waste the light of day, Night's better beauty, feeling, fancy, thought, All that we have and are-for this-for nought! Grant me another year, God of my spirit !—but a day-to win I would know something here! Break for me but one seal that is unbroken! Vain-vain!-my brain is turning With a swift dizziness, and my heart grows sick, And these hot temple-throbs come fast and thick, And I am freezing-burning Dying! Oh God! if I might only live!— My phial -Ha! it thrills me-I revive. Ay-were not man to die He were too glorious for this narrow sphere! Had he but time to brood on knowledge here- Could he but train his eye Might he but wait the mystic word and hourOnly his Maker would transcend his power! Earth has no mineral strange Th' illimitable air no hidden wings- Seasons no mystery, and stars no spell, Oh, but for time to track The upper stars into the pathless sky— To see th' invisible spirits, eye to eye To hurl the lightning back To tread unhurt the sea's dim-lighted hallsTo chase Day's chariot to the horizon-walls And more, much more-for now The life-seal'd fountains of my nature moveTo nurse and purify this human love To clear the god-like brow Of weakness and mistrust, and bow it down, Worthy and beautiful, to the much-loved one— This were indeed to feel The soul-thirst slaken at the living stream To live-Oh God! that life is but a dream! Dim-dim-I faint-darkness comes o'er my eye Cover me! save me ! -God of heaven! I die! 'Twas morning, and the old man lay alone. |