W ( 96 ) 



LA MORT DE LOUIS QUINZE." 



fc Give air ! give air !" alas ! no breath 



Of the world's winds can cope with death ! 



The lofty dome is all too low 



Arid the hush'd struggler soon must go 



To narrower bounds the spirit where ? 



Track not its flight forbear ! forbear ! 



One outlet hath mysterious fate 



From pallet rude and bed of state. 



Tarries no maudate of the grave 



More for the monarch than the slave ? 



The despot of that empire hears 



Alike unmov'd the prayers and tears 



Of beauty, and deformity, 



Of the subtle tongue and radiant eye, 



Of those who weep when the good man dies 



And those who loathe where the lazar lies 



The courtier throng that press'd too nigh 

 The chair of state, that death-bed fly 

 His worshippers their fire is dim 

 Who of them all would change with him ? 

 Who of them all is zealous now 

 To clasp the hand and bathe the brow ? 

 Where glory ! are thy myriads gone ? 

 Three faithful hearts are here alone.* 



Aloof afar that myriad's eyes 

 Are watching where the monarch dies. 

 In his sad chamber stands a light 

 High in the casement burning bright 

 What sudden hand hath put it out ? 

 Why rends the air that deaf ning shout ? 

 They signal that his race is run 

 Another's sovereignty begun ! 



Young Louis and fair Antoinette ! 

 With violent dews your eyes are wet, 

 Ye tremble but as does the lake 

 On which the morning zephyrs wake, 

 And depths of gladness fresh and pure 

 Are whisp'ring you of skies secure, 

 A fair expanse, for which await 

 The glowing noon the sunset late. 



Ye hear not yet the coming hour, 



And gath'ring of the tempest's pow'r, 



Whose lasting furies shall be driv'n 



Through those clear depths now mirroring heav'n ; 



But did ye know and could ye trace 



The deeper future of your race, 



Would you exchange your doom of dread, 



Your scaffold for your grandsire's bed ? 



Louis Quinze died of small -pox ; his last moments were deserted by all 

 but his daughters and one valet. 



