II.
The Voice From the Tomb.
Σάββατον ὅλον πίναμε, τὴν κύριακ’ ὅλ’ ἡμέρα.
Two days we held our festival—two days we feasted high ;1
And on the third our wine was done—both cask and cup were dry.2
The captain sent me forth alone to seek a fresh supply ;3
But nothing of the way I knew, for stranger there was I.4
I took the first frequented path : it brought me to a cave—5
Another led me through the wood—another to the wave ;6
At last I reach’d a rising ground, where many a cluster’d grave7
Mark’d, with its cross and figured stone, the dwelling of the brave.8
One stood apart from all the rest—one low and lonely bed ;9
I saw it not, but, wandering on, I stepp’d upon its head ;10
And lo ! I heard a voice beneath—a voice as from the dead,11
Like thunder subterranean, in answer to my tread.12
“ What hast thou there, O lonely tomb ?— what cause disturbs thy rest ?13
The black earth heap’d too heavily—the stone upon thy breast ?”14
“ I am not wearied with the stone, nor by the mould opprest ;15
It is thine own unhallow’d step that wakes me from my rest !16
“ Remove thy foot from off my head, thou stranger of the night,17
And trouble not the sleep of him who fought his country’s fight ;18
For I have been a young man too, in glory and in might,19
And wander’d on the mountain side when the moon was shining bright.”20