Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/577

 In his cell The student saw the pageant; spied from far The long-drawn pomp which reached from west to east Slow moving in the silence—casque and plume And banner waving sad; the marvellous state Of heralds, soldiers, nobles, foreign powers, With baton or with pennon: princes, peers, Judges, and dignitaries of Church and State, And warriors grown grey-headed; every form Which greatness can assume or honour name, Peaceful or warlike,—each and all were there, Trooping in sable sorrow after him Who slept serene upon his funeral car In glorious rest! A child might understand That 'twas no national sorrow, but a grief Wide as the world. A child might understand That all mankind were sorrowing for one! That banded nations had conspired to pay This homage to the chief who drew his sword At the command of Duty; kept it bright Through perilous days; and, soon as victory smiled, Laid it unsullied, in the lap of Peace.

Such things, and more, the student spied; as dull Of heart were he who, hearing through the day The doleful clang from many a tower and spire, (As if in every college one were dead!) Could sit with slumbering fancy; hear no strains Of melancholy music: see no shade Cast (as by nodding plumes) across his book, And hiding all the sense; yea, pour no prayer Voiceless, yet hearty as ineloquent; Unconscious to himself of what he said;—

"God, rest his gallant spirit! give him peace! And crown his brows with amaranth,—and set The saintly palm-branch in his strong right-hand! Amid the conquering armies of the skies Give him high place for ever! let him walk O'er meads of better asphodel; and be Where dwell the single-hearted and the wise, The saviours of their country!—faithful men, And loyal to their Prince, and true and brave; Men like himself; severely, simply good, Who scorned to be ambitious,—scorned the snares Of office, station, rank, but stood sublime In natural greatness O Eternal King— O Father of all spirits,—give him peace!"