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EPITAPH by JOSE-MARIA DE HEREDIA (1842-1905)

First Line: HERE SLEEPS, O PASSER, HYACINTH THE LORD
Last Line: THIS SWEET, SAD SYMBOL OF APOLLO'S SIGHS.

Here sleeps, O passer, Hyacinth the Lord
Of Maugiron, dead, gone, at rest;
May God absolve and keep him near his breast;
Fallen to earth, he lies in holy sward.
None -- even Quelus -- wore the pearly cord,
The plumed cap, or ruff more meetly prest,
Behold by a new Myron well exprest
A spray of hyacinth in marble scored.
And having kissed him and most tenderly
Placed him in coffin, Henry willed that he
At Saint-Germain be laid; -- fair, wan, he lies.
And wishing that such grief should never die,
He made in church, all changes to defy.
This sweet, sad symbol of Apollo's sighs.




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