“ Ye, who are watching when my end draws near,1
Speak not, I pray !2
’Twill help me most some music faint to hear,3
And pass away.4
“ For song can loosen, link by link, each care5
From Life’s hard chain.6
So gently rock my griefs ; but, oh ! beware !7
To speak were pain.8
“ I’m weary of all words ; their wisest speech9
Can nought reveal ;10
Give me the spirit-sounds minds cannot reach,11
But hearts can feel.12
“ Some melody which all my soul shall steep,13
As tranced I lie,14
Passing from visions wild to dreamy sleep,15
—From sleep to die.16
“ Ye, who are watching when my end draws near,17
Speak not, I pray !18
Some sounds of music murmuring in my ear19
Will smoothe my way.20
“ My nurse, poor shepherdess ! I’d bid you seek ;21
Tell her my whim ;22
I want her near me, when I’m faint and weak23
On the grave’s brim.24
“ I want to hear her sing, ere I depart,25
Just once again,26
In simple monotone to touch the heart27
That old world strain.28
“ You’ll find her still ; the rustic hovel gives29
Calm hopes and fears :30
But in this world of mine one rarely lives31
Thrice twenty years.32
“ Be sure you leave us with our hearts alone,33
Only us two !34
She’ll sing to me in her old trembling tone35
Stroking my brow.36
“ She only to the end will love through all37
My good and ill ;38
So will the air of those old songs recall39
My first years still.40
“ And, dreaming thus, I shall not feel at last41
My heart-strings torn,42
But, all unknowing, the great barriers past,43
Die,—as we’re born.44
“ Ye, who are watching when my end draws near,45
Speak not, I pray !46
’Twill help me most some music faint to hear,47
And pass away.”48