The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-12-21
GREEK FUNERAL CHANT.
BY MRS. HEMAhs

bf MNS. HEMANs.
A wall was heard around thebed, the deathbet
of the young;
Amid her tears, the funeral chant, n mourniu
mother sung
Ianthis, dost thou slcep' thou sleep'5t, but
this is not the rest,
The breathing and the rosy calm I've pillow
ed on my breast
/ lulled thee not to this repose, Ianthis, my
sweet son
AS in thy childhoods glowing time, by twi
light have done.
How is II that bear to stand and look upor
thee now,
And that die not, seeing death on thy palC
glorious brow
look upon thee, thou that vert Of all mos
fair and brave,
see thee wearing still too much orboauty 70,
the grave.
Though moursiully thy smile is fixed, and
heavily thine eye
Hath shut above the falcon glance that in il
loved to lie
And fast is bound tho springing step that
seemed on brcezes borne
When TO thy couch came and SAID, wake
hunter wake, tia morn
Vet art thou lovely still my flower, untouched
by slow decay,
And the witheredstem romain--I would that
Oh ever when met thy look, knew that
this would be,
knew too well that length of days was not a
gift for thee.
! saw it kndling in thy check, and in thy
bearing high;
a voice came Whispering 70 my soul and told
me thou must die
That thou must die, thou fearless ono, where
swords were flashing rod
Why doth a mother live TO say, my first born
and my dood
fhey tell me of thy youthful fame, they talk
of victory won
Speak thou and | will hear, my child Ion.
this my sweet son
A wall was heard around the bed, tho death.
bed .h the young,
A fair haired bride, the Funeral Chant, ainids,
her weeping sung
Ianthis look'st thou not on me can love in.
decd be fed
When was it woe before to gaze upos thy
stately head
lwould that | had followed thee, Ianthia, my
beloved
Aud stood, as woman oh hath stood, whore
faithful hearts are proved.
That had bound breastplate on, and battled
al thy side
= Qs
had we died
But whore was when thou did II fall beneath
the fatal sword
Was beside the sparkling fount, or at the
peaceful board
Or singing some sweet song of old, IN the
shadow ofthe vine,
Or praying TO the SAINTS for thee, before the
holy shrine
And thou vast tying low the while, the life
drops from thy heart
Fast gushing like Il mountain spring--And
could st thou thus depart
Gould 1T thou depart, nor on my lips pour out
thy tlccting breath
oh was with thee but in Joy, that should
have been in death.
yos, was with thee when the dance through
masy rings was led,
And whcnthe Tyre and voice were tuned, and
when the feast was spread.
But not were noble blood poured forth, where
sounding javelins ilew,--
Why did hear love first sweet wsrds and
not its last adieu.
What now can breathe of gladncss moro, what
scene, what hour, what tone
The blue skies fade with all their hghts--thcy
fade since thou art gone;
Even that must leave me, that still face by all
my tears unmoved--
dhe Inc 1fom tllls uSrR WOrlu WIN tnoc, IAN
this, my beloved
A wall was heard around tho bed, the death.
bed OF the young,
Amidat her tears, the Funeral Chant, mourn.
ful sister sung
lanthis brother Of my eoul, Oh, where arS
now tho days
That laughed among the doop green hills, on
all our infant plays'
Whcnwe two sportod hy thestreams, or track.
ed them 20 their source,
And like the stage, the rocks along, was Thy
free fearlcss course.
see the pine, there waving yet, sec tho riils
descend
see thy bounding step no more--my BROTHER
and my friend
come with flowers, for Spring is come Ian.
this art thou here
ibring the garlsrds she hath brought cas-,
them on thy bier
Thou should'st be crowned with victory's
crown, but Oh moro meet they seem,
The first faint vioiets Of tho wood, and lilies
of the stream:
More mce, for one thus foDdly loved, and laid
thus early low
Alas how sadly sleeps thy face, amidst the
sunshipes glow,
The golden glow that through thy heart, was
won; such JOY 90 send,
woo that II smiles and not on thee, my bro |
ther and my friend
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