The Silken Tassel/Sweet Death
Sweet Death
Death, icy Death, I welcome thee on earth!
Thou soothing spirit of this woeful world,
Whose temples ever beat with grappled pain
And brows are burning hot with blazing fire:
Sweep through her shaken heart thy snowy robe,
And give her at thy feet a sweet-cold peace!
Come, icy Death, I welcome thee on earth!
Thou soothing spirit of this woeful world,
Whose temples ever beat with grappled pain
And brows are burning hot with blazing fire:
Sweep through her shaken heart thy snowy robe,
And give her at thy feet a sweet-cold peace!
Come, icy Death, I welcome thee on earth!
Thy voice is shivering to the sinful ears:
They know not thee, who call thee cruel names,
They know not thee, who see thee black in form;
Thy face is whiter than the milky swan
That swims on silvery lake so calm, serene;
Thou art more kind than kindest thoughts can be:
O gentle Death, I welcome thee on earth!
They know not thee, who call thee cruel names,
They know not thee, who see thee black in form;
Thy face is whiter than the milky swan
That swims on silvery lake so calm, serene;
Thou art more kind than kindest thoughts can be:
O gentle Death, I welcome thee on earth!
When hopeless fancy finds a trembling fate
And all the world a starless darkness seems;
When heart can bear no longer lingering stings
And life her brightest plumes enfolds within:
When like the dropping petals, one by one,
Our loving ones before us pass away:
O come, kind Death, I welcome thee on earth!
And all the world a starless darkness seems;
When heart can bear no longer lingering stings
And life her brightest plumes enfolds within:
When like the dropping petals, one by one,
Our loving ones before us pass away:
O come, kind Death, I welcome thee on earth!
Soft as the starry footsteps of the Night
That comes to calm a hot tumultuous day;
And peaceful as the silent-gleaming lake
That holds in heart another glimmering heaven;
Fair as the rain bow-bridge that shining stands
And hails our spirit to a higher world:
Come thou, sweet Death, I welcome thee on earth!
That comes to calm a hot tumultuous day;
And peaceful as the silent-gleaming lake
That holds in heart another glimmering heaven;
Fair as the rain bow-bridge that shining stands
And hails our spirit to a higher world:
Come thou, sweet Death, I welcome thee on earth!