to the memory of felicia hemans.
105
In the bright courts above,
Where angel harps the ceaseless chorus raise,
The heaven-tuned song shall swell her notes of praise.
Before the throne of love,
Its breathings tuned to heaven's own melody,
Her spirit swells the anthem of the free.
Where angel harps the ceaseless chorus raise,
The heaven-tuned song shall swell her notes of praise.
Before the throne of love,
Its breathings tuned to heaven's own melody,
Her spirit swells the anthem of the free.
Minstrel! whose magic sway
Can bid the secret fountains of the heart,
The gushing meed of sympathy impart!
Whose spirit-stirring lay
Can breathe with wizard power the gracious spell,
Of heavenly hopes and holy thoughts to tell;—
Can bid the secret fountains of the heart,
The gushing meed of sympathy impart!
Whose spirit-stirring lay
Can breathe with wizard power the gracious spell,
Of heavenly hopes and holy thoughts to tell;—
To thee we yield our praise.
The glorious tribute of undying fame
Shall cling around the memory of thy name;
For Genius ne'er decays;
But like the immortal spirit, high and free,
A deathless glory is its destiny.
The glorious tribute of undying fame
Shall cling around the memory of thy name;
For Genius ne'er decays;
But like the immortal spirit, high and free,
A deathless glory is its destiny.
And thus thy name shall dwell,
A hallowed treasure, purified and bright,
To shed around our path its holy light;
And future years shall tell
With what deep love thy cherished name we keep,
Thou! locked in death's unwakening, icy sleep!
A hallowed treasure, purified and bright,
To shed around our path its holy light;
And future years shall tell
With what deep love thy cherished name we keep,
Thou! locked in death's unwakening, icy sleep!
To thy last resting-place,
In grief's hushed stillness o'er thy sleep to bend,
Shall Genius come, with Love its tears to blend.
There, too, the eye may trace
In grief's hushed stillness o'er thy sleep to bend,
Shall Genius come, with Love its tears to blend.
There, too, the eye may trace