Placidaque ibi demum morte quievit.--VIRGIL. There calm at length he breathed his soul away. "O MOST delightful hour by man Experienced here below, The hour that terminates his span, His folly, and his woe! "Worlds should not bribe me back to tread Again life's dreary waste, To see again my day o'erspread With all the gloomy past. "My home henceforth is in the skies-- Earth, seas, and sun adieu! All heaven unfolded to my eyes, I have no sight for you." So spake Aspasio, firm possessed Of faith's supporting rod, Then breathed his soul into its rest, The bosom of his God. He was a man among the few Sincere on virtue's side; And all his strength from Scripture drew, To hourly use applied. That rule he prized, by that he feared, He hated, hoped, and loved; Nor ever frowned, or sad appeared, But when his heart had roved. For he was frail as thou or I, And evil felt within: But when he felt it, heaved a sigh, And loathed the thought of sin. Such lived Aspasio; and at last, Called up from earth to heaven, The gulf of death triumphant passed, By gales of blessing driven. "His joys be mine," each reader cries, "When my last hour arrives!" "They shall be yours," my Verse replies, "Such only be your lives." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLINDED BIRD by THOMAS HARDY EXTRACTS FROM AN OPERA: 2. DAISY'S SONG by JOHN KEATS THE BIGLOW PAPERS: 6. THE PIOUS EDITOR'S CREED by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SOUL AND BODY by ANDREW MARVELL LOVE LIES BLEEDING by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 38. THE MORROW'S MESSAGE by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI WHAT BEST I SEE; TO U.S.G. RETURN'D FROM HIS WORLD'S TOUR by WALT WHITMAN |