ODE TO ETERNITY. 465 



" Send for him up stairs," cried the baronet ; " but no, no," he 

 added vaguely, " that were too degrading." 



" I have a paper also," said the priest slowly, " which Mr. Wil- 

 loughby compelled his wife to sign, in which all is confessed ; and 

 this he did, fearing that you would call him to account for his deser- 

 tion of her, to be produced in the last resort." 



The baronet started, and fixed his eyes upon the priest earnestly. 

 " I shall go mad," he said, " but not yet. I am here, Courtenay ; 

 open the paper and place it into this hand ; but come not near me 

 when 1 have read it, lest I tear you to pieces ; keep the air from me, 

 it weighs upon my brain. Give it to me now, now." 



The baronet stood with one hand tightly grasping his head, and 

 the other outstretched at arm's length. The priest approached, and 

 gave the paper to him. He held it firmly and gazed upon it. There 

 was no motion of his eye when he had perused the paper. It rested 

 upon the signature. Several minutes elapsed. 



" Sir Robert, Sir Robert Aylmer," cried the priest in alarm, and 

 he approached a few paces. 



The baronet fell back without a groan. 



Courtenay drew near, and knelt down by his side. Sir Robert 

 Aylmer was no more ! 



ODE TO ETERNITY. 



GAZE o'er the world ; five thousand years 



Have well nigh lengthened out their way, 

 With all their passions, pangs, and fears ; 

 Yet look they like a summer's day, 

 Compared in space to thee, 



Eternity ! 



Man pants and toils ; thrones rise on high ; 



Nations fling glory's banners forth ; 

 Fierce shoutings vex the concave sky, 

 And monarchs strut the earth, 

 But what are kings to thee, 



Eternity ! 



The pulse of time still labouring heaves, 



The stream of hours still onward flows, 

 Death shakes the tree : *and human leaves 

 Are torn away from their repose, 

 Fluttering for fear to thee, 



Eternity ! 



Where are Assyria's men of might ? 



Where Persia's conquest smitten race ? 

 Where Macedon ? oh shadowy night 

 Art thou, art thou their dwelling place ? 

 Yes, they are gone to thee, 



Eternity! 



u'l-rj irtp <pv\\wv yevvfj, roi^e /cat &v5pu>v, K. r. \. HOMER. 



