The half-suppression of the sigh, The stifled tear in every eye, Foretold the awful doom was nigh, The half-clos'd eye, the uprais'd look, The hand upon the sacred book, The parting smile which none could brook, Call'd forth the tears of misery. One wish to gain the heavenly shore, THE DEATH OF THE ATHEIST, A FRAGMENT. Εχθρόν γε θνητοῖς, καὶ θεοῖς στυγουμένον.—Eurip. Loud blew the angry blast; The midnight storm was hurtling in the air, Her train of starry satellites! and all Of heav'nly peacefulness, now burst their bounds, And seem'd one universal war to wage. Loud burst the thunder-crash; and each man look'd Into his neighbour's face, as if to ask If that night were his last? for it did seem As if the Almighty Angel had dissolv'd The charm of death; and that dread hour had come Which borders on eternity, when all Must wake from the omnipotence of death. The horse had thrown his rider: his wild eyes Seem'd starting from their sockets; he burst forth Heedless and masterless, and with each flash Rear'd his proud neck, and stood aghast with fear; So terrible and awful was that night! But who was he, who, in that fearful hour, Unknown and friendless, 'neath a stranger's roof, Had found a cheerless welcome, but to breathe His last farewell in frightful agony? 'Twas the stern Atheist! in whose guilty face, Death was too deeply stamp'd: within his breast Tumultuous passions rag'd, more horrible Than the proud elements, which round him pour'd Fix'd was his glazed eye and motionless; His glance was terrible: upon his brow A thousand crimes were trac'd, and on his lineaments: He turn'd to former deeds, and if perchance The thunder roll'd above him; and more near Sat the big heat-drops-and his voice howl'd forth Wild and unmeaning sentences, which spoke And now the storm roll'd on more awfully; Spread o'er his fixed eyes; for death held forth Th' unutterable words were chok'd, which breath'd Gasping for breath-and gave one shriek—and died! |