To him the wandering stars revealed 

 The secrets in their cradle sealed : 

 The far-off, frozen sphere that swings 

 Through ether, zoned with lucid rings ; 



The orb that rolls in dim eclipse, 

 Wide wheeling round its long ellipse, 

 His name Urania writes with these, 

 And stamps it on her Pleiades. 



We knew him not ? Ah ! well we knew 

 The manly soul, so brave, so true, 

 The cheerful heart that conquered age, 

 The child-like, silver-bearded sage. 



No more his tireless thought explores 

 The azure sea with golden shores : 

 Rest, wearied frame ! the stars shall keep 

 A loving watch where thou shalt sleep. 



Farewell ! the spirit needs must rise, 

 So long a tenant of the skies, 

 Rise to that home all worlds above 

 Whose sun is God, whose light is love. 



OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. 



