O Death, what art thou? a Lawgiver that never altereth, Fixing the consummating seal, whereby the deeds of life become established: O Death, what art thou? a stern and silent usher, Leading to the judgment for Eternity, after the trial-scene of Time: O Death, what art thou? an Husbandman, that reapeth always, Out of season, as in season, with the sickle in his hand: O Death, what art thou? the shadow unto every substance, In the bower as in the battle, haunting night and day: O Death, what art thou? Nurse of dreamless slumbers Freshening the fevered flesh to a wakefulness eternal: O Death, what art thou? strange and solemn Alchymist, Elaborating life's elixir from these clayey crucibles: O Death, what art thou? Antitype of Nature's marvels, The seed and dormant chrysalis bursting into energy and glory. Thou calm safe anchorage for the shattered hulls of men,-- Thou spot of gelid shade, after the hot-breathed desert,-- Thou silent waiting-hall, where Adam meeteth with his children,-- How full of dread, how full of hope, loometh inevitable Death: Of dread, for all have sinned; of hope, for One hath saved; The dread is drowned in joy, the hope is filled with immortality! --Pass along, pilgrim of life, go to thy grave unfearing, The terrors are but shadows now, that haunt the vale of Death. [Illustration] OF IMMORTALITY. [Illustration: "G"] Gird up thy mind to contemplation, trembling inhabitant of earth; Tenant of a hovel for a day,--thou art heir of the universe for ever! For, neither congealing of the grave, nor gulphing waters of the firmament, Nor expansive airs of heaven, nor dissipative fires of Gehenna, Nor rust of rest, nor wear, nor waste, nor loss, nor chance, nor change, Shall avail to quench or overwhelm the spark of soul within thee! Thou art an imperishable leaf on the evergreen bay-tree of Existence; A word from Wisdom's mouth, that cannot be unspoken; A ray of Love's own light; a drop in Mercy's sea; A creature, marvellous and fearful, begotten by the fiat of Omnipotence. I, that speak in weakness, and ye, that hear in charity, Shall not cease to live and feel, though flesh must see corruption; For the prison-gates of matter shall be broken, and the shackled soul go free, Free, for good or ill, to satisfy its appetence for ever: For ever,--dreadful doom, to be hurried on eternally to evil,-- For ever,--happy fate, to ripen into perfectness--for ever!