Page:The Bengali Book of English Verse.djvu/38

6 Gay minstrel! ne'er had Death before Its dart destructive, sharpened more To pierce a gayer, mortal heart Than thine, which ah! hath felt the smart! Though life no more is warm in thee, Yet thou dost look as though 't may be That life in thee is full and warm; Not cruel death could mar thy form; Thy features, one and all, possess Still, still their former ugliness. They are in truth the very same The Indian Crow hath, known to fame.

Oh! may when death hath closed these eyes, And freed from earthly bondage, flies The spirit to eternity, Stretched at full length I lie like thee, On mother earth's cold lap, so ne'er To spin such verses out I'll dare, And please the public ear again With such discordant, silly strain, As thou didst once delight to pour At morn or noon, or evening hour. In sooth I promise this shall be My last line in addressing thee.