Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/552

 ALEXANDER POPE

Poets themselves must fall, Jike those they sung, Deaf the praised ear, and mute the tuneful tongue. Ev'n he, whose soul now melts in mournful lays, Shall shortly want the gen'rous tear he pays; Then from his closing eyes thy form shall part, And the last pang shall tear thee from his heart, Life's idle business at one gasp be o'er, The Muse forgot, and thou beloved no more!

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��453 The Dying Christian to his Soul

riTAL spark of heav'nly flame' Quit, O quit this mortal frame Trembling, hoping, ling'rmg, flying, O the pain, the bliss of dying' Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife, And let me languish into life.

Hark ' they whisper ; angels say,

Sister Spirit, come away'

What is this absorbs me quite?

Steals my senses, shuts my sight, Drowns my spirits, draws my breath^ Tell me, my soul, can this be death?

The world recedes; it disappears! Heav'n opens on my eyes' my ears

With sounds seraphic ring! Lend, lend your wings' I mount! I fly! O Grave! where is thy victory? O Death' where is thy sting?

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