SONNETS WRITTEN AFTER ADHÉMAR'S DEATH. XXIV. THE NEWS OF ADHÉMAR'S DEATH. WOE's me! my pulse stands still! Adhémar's dead! I read it in the Journal of this morn, That was to me by brawling newsboy borne. Mine eye fell on the telegraphic head, And running down the column swift as hawk Darts preyward, midway halted, while a shudder Shot through my heart, as through a ship whose rudder Strikes suddenly against a coral rock. "After three weeks," it ran, "of agony, Precisely fifteen minutes ere eleven Adhémar's spirit passed away to heaven, Enwrapped in mantle of serenity; To-morrow, as the sun goes to his bed, The knell will call him to the city of the dead. XXV. WHO ADHÉMAR WAS. "He was a lawyer-in the noon of youth ; His eagle thoughts like pinioned arrows flew Up with his soul, star-soaring souls of crowds, A genius of that high volcanic order That hurls its lava forth in wild disorder, And with its rockets strikes the planets blind." XXVI. ARRIVAL IN SPIRIT-LAND. "TIS just six months ago, beloved, to-day, "Tis just six months to-day, since, out of breath, He sat thee on the shores of Acheron ; And called grim Charon, who, with grizzly frown, Did ferry thee across the stream of Death. 'Tis just six months, to-day, since thy fair feet First pressed the borders of the spirit-land, And thou didst give the angels thy white hand, Who thy arrival came with flowers to greetSix months, to-day, since thou, at Eden's gate, Seated with them, didst all glad news of earth relate. XXVII. MY THOUGHTS HANG ON THE GATES OF PARADISE. THOU'ST taken all my thoughts to heaven with thee; I cannot chain them in their cells below, But through the bolts and bars away they go, And, pressing their fair faces 'gainst the grate, Arrayed in purple of eternity. There rapt, they watch thee pace celestial bowers : There rapt, survey the sylphs entwine thy hair With blossoms nurtured in seraphic air. There rapt, behold thee clasp the white-winged hours, Until heaven's jealous porter them espies, And, sore offended, shuts the gates of Paradise. XXVIII. ADHEMAR'S REIGN. TWELVE years, Adhémar, thou didst rule my heartTwelve years usurp its realms from zone to zoneTwelve years serenely sit upon its throne, Despite of many a rival's pointed dart. Twelve years thou wert the shepherd of the flocks Thee preach of beauty, truth, faith, hope, love, cheer. And watch my thoughts at play among the flowers, O Death! how couldst thou such a monarch slay! And leave my heart-world to a base plebeian sway? |