George Darley

Lenimina Laborum. 30. On the Death of Talma

The deathless sons of Greece have died once more,
And Rome's proud heroes perished once again:
The world was ne'er so desolate before,
For thou the spirit wert of those great men!
Their several forms thy single nature wore
Talma!—while thou didst live, they could not die;
Ere they again burst their sepulchral door,
Time may run on a whole Eternity!
Thy life contracted many a glorious age,
Thou made'st the virtues of all years thine own;
By turns the Prince, the Warrior, and the Sage.
We had their greatness still, though they were gone.
Familiar with high thoughts thou must have soared
Where the Arch-spirits sublime look upward to the Lord!