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VI.

I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the death-watch

beat,

There came a sweeter token when the night and morning

meet:

But sit beside my bed, mother, and put your hand in mine, And Effie on the other side, and I will tell the sign.

VII.

All in the wild March-morning I heard the angels call; It was when the moon was setting, and the dark was over all;

The trees began to whisper, and the wind began to roll, And in the wild March-morning I heard them call my soul.

VIII.

For lying broad awake I thought of you and Effie dear;
I saw you sitting in the house, and I no longer here;
With all my strength I pray'd for both, and so I felt
resign'd,

And up the valley came a swell of music on the wind.

IX.

I thought that it was fancy, and I listen'd in my bed, And then did something speak to me-I know not what was said;

For great delight and shuddering took hold of all my

mind,

And up the valley came again the music on the wind.

But

X.

you were sleeping; and I said, "It's not for them : it's mine."

And if it comes three times, I thought, I take it for a sign. And once again it came, and close beside the window

bars,

Then seem'd to go right up to Heaven and die among the stars.

XI.

So now I think my time is near. I trust it is. I know The blessed music went that way my soul will have to go. And for myself, indeed, I care not if I go to-day.

But, Effie, you must comfort her when I am past away.

XII.

And say to Robin a kind word, and tell him not to fret; There's many worthier than I, would make him happy yet. If I had lived-I cannot tell-I might have been his wife ; But all these things have ceased to be, with my desire of life.

XIII.

O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in a glow; He shines upon a hundred fields, and all of them I know. And there I move no longer now, and there his light may shine

Wild flowers in the valley for other hands than mine.

XIV.

O sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this day is

done

The voice, that now is speaking, may be beyond the sun-For ever and for ever with those just souls and true— And what is life, that we should moan? why make we such ado?

XV.

For ever and for ever, all in a blessed home

And there to wait a little while till you

and Effie come

To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your

breast

And the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are

at rest.

THE LOTOS-EATERS.

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I.

"COURAGE! he said, and pointed toward the land,
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon."
In the afternoon they came unto a land,
In which it seemed always afternoon.

All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;

And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.

II,

A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke, Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go ;

And some thro' wavering lights and shadows broke, Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below.

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