Fare well man’s dark last journey o’er the deep, Thou sire of sires! whose bow in strength hath stood These threescore years and ten, that thou hast wooed Men’s souls to heaven. In Jesus fall’n asleep, Around thy couch three generations weep, 5 Reared on thy knees with wisdom’s heavenly food, And by thy counsels taught to choose the good; Who in thy footsteps press up Zion’s steep, To reach that temple which but now did ope And let their father in. O’er _his_ bier wake 10 No doleful strain, but high the note of hope And praise uplift to God, who did him make A faithful shepherd, of his Church a prop; And of his seed did faithful shepherds take. _Edward Irving._ CCLVI _THE EVENING CLOUD._ A cloud lay cradled near the setting sun; A gleam of crimson tinged its braided snow; Long had I watched the glory moving on, O’er the still radiance of the lake below; Tranquil its spirit seemed and floated slow; 5 Even in its very motion there was rest; While every breath of eve that chanced to blow Wafted the traveller to the beauteous West. Emblem, methought, of the departed soul! To whose white robe the gleam of bliss is given; 10 And by the breath of mercy made to roll Right onward to the golden gates of heaven; Where to the eye of Faith it peaceful lies, And tells to man his glorious destinies. _John Wilson._ CCLVII _NIGHT AND DEATH._ Mysterious Night! when our first parent knew Thee from report divine, and heard thy name, Did he not tremble for this lovely frame, This glorious canopy of light and blue? Yet ’neath a curtain of translucent dew, 5 Bathed in the rays of the great setting flame, Hesperus with the host of heaven came, And lo! creation widened in man’s view. Who could have thought such darkness lay concealed Within thy beams, O sun! or who could find, 10 Whilst fly, and leaf, and insect stood revealed, That to such countless orbs thou mad’st us blind! Why do we then shun death with anxious strife? If light can thus deceive, wherefore not life? _Blanco White._ PART THE FIFTH. CCLVIII _THE FORSAKEN MERMAN._ Come, dear children, let us away; Down and away below. Now my brothers call from the bay; Now the great winds shorewards blow; Now the salt tides seawards flow; 5 Now the wild white horses play, Champ and chafe and toss in the spray. Children dear, let us away. This way, this way.