| |
| THE CASTLE clock had tolled midnight, | |
| With mattock and with spade— | |
| And silent, by the torches ’light— | |
| His corse in earth we laid. | |
| |
| The coffin bore his name; that those | 5 |
| Of other years might know, | |
| When earth its secrets should disclose, | |
| Whose bones were laid below. | |
| |
| “Peace to the dead!” no children sung, | |
| Slow pacing up the nave; | 10 |
| No prayers were read, no knell was rung, | |
| As deep we dug his grave. | |
| |
| We only heard the winter’s wind, | |
| In many a sullen gust, | |
| As o’er the open grave inclined, | 15 |
| We murmured, “Dust to dust!” | |
| |
| A moonbeam from the arch’s height | |
| Streamed, as we placed the stone; | |
| The long aisles started into light, | |
| And all the windows shone. | 20 |
| |
| We thought we saw the banners then | |
| That shook along the walls, | |
| Whilst the sad shades of mailed men | |
| Were gazing on the stalls. | |
| |
| ’Tis gone!—Again on tombs defaced | 25 |
| Sits darkness more profound; | |
| And only by the torch we traced | |
| The shadows on the ground. | |
| |
| And now the chilling, freezing air | |
| Without blew long and loud; | 30 |
| Upon our knees we breathed one prayer, | |
| Where he slept in his shroud. | |
| |
| We laid the broken marble floor,— | |
| No name, no trace appears! | |
| And when we closed the sounding door, | 35 |
| We thought of him with tears. | |
| |
