Prometheus Bound (Browning, 1833)/Remonstrance and Reply
REMONSTRANCE.
Oh say not it is vain to weep
That deafen'd bier above;
Where genius has made room for death,
And life is past from love;
That tears can never his bright looks
And tender words restore:
I know it is most vain to weep—
And therefore, weep the more!
Oh say not I shall cease to weep
When years have wither'd by;
That ever I shall speak of joy,
As if he could reply;
That ever mine unquivering lips
Shall name the name he bore:
I know that I may cease to weep,
And therefore weep the more!
Say, Time, who slew mine happiness,
Will leave to me my woe;
And woe's own stony strength shall chain
These tears' impassion'd flow:
Or say, that these, my ceaseless tears,
May life to death restore;
For then my soul were wept away,
And I should weep no more!
REPLY.
Whereon his ashes lie,
Is well!—I know that rains must fall
When clouds are in the sky:
I know, to die—to part, will cloud
The brightest spirit o'er;
And yet, wouldst thou for ever weep,
When he can weep no more?
Fix not thy sight, so long and fast,
Upon the shroud's despair;
Look upward unto Zion's hill,
For death was also there!
And think, ' The death, the scourge, the scorn,
My sinless Saviour bore—
The curse—the pang, too deep for tears—
That I should weep no more!'