de Porchères

Translated by Thomas S. Collyer

HERE lies the worthy husband of a Wife

Whose Virtues worthy of that Husband shone:

Love’s charming Combat was their only strife;

While in two bodies their two Souls were one.

An equal ardour either breast reveal’d:

Its favours Heaven bestow’d with equal hand;

Both felt Love’s wound, in neither bosom heal’d;

United both in one celestial Band.

But He now sleeps: and She still wakes to mourn

Her solitary Couch, his lonely Urn;

Nor has She join’d to his her parting breath.

No, no,—a fond exchange each Consort bears:

Half of his life within her Heart he shares;

She in his Tomb partakes of half his Death.