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FORTUNATE LOVE: 16. THE FEAR OF DEATH by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE

First Line: BENEATH HER WINDOW IN THE COOL, CALM NIGHT
Last Line: AND WHEN I TURNED AGAIN, LO! DEATH HAD FLED!

BENEATH her window in the cool, calm night
I stood, and made as though I would have sung,
Being full of life and confident and young,
And dreaming only of young love's delight;
Then suddenly I saw the gloom divide,
And gliding from the darkest cypress-tree
Death came, white-boned, and snatcht my lute from me,
And sat himself, grimacing, by my side.
Just then, as when the golden moon looks down
On starless waters from a stony sky,
My love's fair face shone out above on high;
Whereat I, fearing nothing of Death's frown,
Turned smiling to salute her lovely head,
And when I turned again, lo! Death had fled!



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