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Felicia Dorothea Hemans - The Queen Of Prussia`s Tomb
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In sweet pride upon that insult keen
She smiled; then drooping mute and broken-hearted,
To the cold comfort of the grave departed. ~ Milman. 


It stands where northern willows weep,
  A temple fair and lone;
Soft shadows o`er its marble sweep,
  From cypress-branches thrown;
While silently around it spread,
Thou feel`st the presence of the dead. 

And what within is richly shrined?
  A sculptur`d woman`s form,
Lovely in perfect rest reclined,
  As one beyond the storm:
Yet not of death, but slumber, lies
The solemn sweetness on those eyes. 

The folded hands, the calm pure face,
  The mantle`s quiet flow,
The gentle, yet majestic grace,
  Throned on the matron brow;
These, in that scene of tender gloom,
With a still glory robe the tomb. 

There stands an eagle, at the feet
  Of the fair image wrought;
A kingly emblem–nor unmeet
  To wake yet deeper thought:
She whose high heart finds rest below,
Was royal in her birth and wo.  

There are pale garlands hung above,
  Of dying scent and hue;–
She was a mother–in her love
  How sorrowfully true!
Oh! hallow`d long be every leaf,
The record of her children`s grief! 

She saw their birthright`s warrior-crown
  Of olden glory spoil`d,
The standard of their sires borne down,
  The shield`s bright blazon soil`d:
She met the tempest meekly brave,
Then turn`d o`erwearied to the grave. 

She slumber`d; but it came–it came,
  Her land`s redeeming hour,
With the glad shout, and signal flame
  Sent on from tower to tower!
Fast thro` the realm a spirit moved–
`Twas hers, the lofty and the loved. 

Then was her name a note that wrung
  To rouse bold hearts from sleep;
Her memory, as a banner flung
  Forth by the Baltic deep;
Her grief, a bitter vial pour`d
To sanctify th` avenger`s sword. 

And the crown`d eagle spread again
  His pinion to the sun;
And the strong land shook off its chain–
  So was the triumph won!
But wo for earth, where sorrow`s tone
Still blends with victory`s!–She was gone!
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