Littell's Living Age/Volume 133/Issue 1719/Sleep On: A Dirge

by John H. Davies

SLEEP ON: A DIRGE.

BASED ON THE FRENCH.

I.

The daisies prank thy grassy grave;

Above, the dark pine-branches wave:
Sleep on.
Below, the merry runnel sings.
And swallows sweep with glancing wings:
Sleep on, Marie, sleep on.

II.

Some whisper-words of doubt and shame,

Or, lightly laughing, breathe thy name:
Sleep on.
Slander may never harm thee now,
God's gentle hand upon thy brow:
Sleep on, Marie, sleep on.

III.

Calm as a summer sea at rest,

Thy meek hands folded on thy breast,
Sleep on;
Hushed into stillness life's sharp pain,
Nought but the pattering of the rain:
Sleep on, Marie, sleep on.

Gentleman's Magazine.John H. Davies