DR. ERASMUS DARWIN'S LIFE. 189 



Dr. Darwin was called in, and never perhaps since the 

 death of Mrs. Darwin, prescribed with such deep 

 anxiety. Not being requested to continue in the 

 house during the ensuing night, which he apprehended 

 might prove critical, he passed the remaining hours till 

 day-dawn beneath a tree opposite her apartment, watch- 

 ing the passing and repassing lights in the chamber. 

 During the period in which a life so passionately valued 

 was in danger, he paraphrased Petrarch's celebrated 

 sonnet, narrating a dream whose prophecy was accom- 

 plished by the death of Laura. It took place the 

 night on which the vision arose amid his slumber. 

 Dr. Darwin extended the thought of that sonnet into 

 the following elegy : — 



" Dread dream, that, hovering in the midnight air, 

 Clasp'd with thy dusky wing my aching head, 

 While to imagination's startled ear 

 Toll'd the alow bell, for bright Eliza dead. 



" Stretched on her sable bier, the grave beside, 



A snow-white shroud her breathless bosom boimd, 

 O'er her wan brow the mimic lace was tied. 

 And loves and virtues hung their garlands round. 



" Prom those cold lips did softest accents flow ? 



Bound that pale mouth did sweetest dimples play ? 

 On this dull cheek the rose of beauty blow. 

 And those dim eyes diffuse celestial day ? 



" Did this cold hand, unasking Want relieve, 

 Or wake the lyre to every rapturous sound ? 

 How sad for other's woe this breast would heave! 

 How light this heart for other's transport bound! 



" Beats not the beU again ?— Heavens, do I wake? 

 Why heave my sighs, why gush my tears anew ? 

 Unreal forma my trembling doubts mistake, 

 And frantic Borrow fears the vision true. 



