National Lyrics, and Songs for Music/Music at a Death-bed

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For other versions of this work, see Music in a Room of Sickness.


MUSIC AT A DEATH-BED.




"Music! why thy power employ
Only for the sons of joy?
Only for the smiling guests
At natal, or at nuptial feasts?
Rather thy lenient numbers pour
On those whom secret griefs devour;
And with some softly-whispered air
Smooth the brow of dumb despair!"
Warton from Euripides.


Bring music! stir the brooding air
    With an ethereal breath!
Bring sounds my struggling soul to bear
    Up from the couch of death!

A voice, a flute, a dreamy lay,
    Such as the southern breeze
Might waft, at golden fall of day,
    O'er blue transparent seas!


Oh no! not such! that lingering spell
    Would lure me back to life,
When my weaned heart hath said farewell,
    And passed the gates of strife.

Let not a sigh of human love
    Blend with the song its tone!
Let no disturbing echo move
    One that must die alone!

But pour a solemn-breathing strain
    Filled with the soul of prayer;
Let a life's conflict, fear, and pain,
    And trembling hope be there.

Deeper, yet deeper! in my thought
    Lies more prevailing sound,
A harmony intensely fraught
    With pleading more profound


A passion unto music given,
    A sweet, yet piercing cry:
A breaking heart's appeal to heaven,
    A bright faith's victory!

Deeper! Oh! may no richer power
    Be in those notes enshrined?
Can all which crowds on earth's last hour
    No fuller language find?

Away! and hush the feeble song,
    And let the chord be stilled!
Far in another land ere long
    My dream shall be fulfilled.