Author: Matthew Arnold

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    So rest, for ever rest, O princely Pair!
    In your high church, mid the still mountain air,
    Where horn, and hound, and vassals never come.
    Only the blessed Saints are smiling dumb,
    From the rich painted windows of the nave,
    On aisle, and transept, and your marble grave:
    Where thou, young Prince! shalt never more arise
    From the fringed mattress where thy Duchess lies,
    On autumn-mornings, when the bugle sounds,
    And ride across the drawbridge with thy hounds
    To hunt the boar in the crisp woods till eve;
    And thou, O Princess! shalt no more receive,
    Thou and thy ladies, in the hall of state,
    The jaded hunters with their bloody freight,
    Coming benighted to the castle-gate.
    So sleep, for ever sleep, O marble Pair!
    Or, if ye wake, let it be then, when fair
    On the carved western front a flood of light
    Streams from the setting sun, and colours bright
    Prophets, transfigured Saints, and Martyrs brave,
    In the vast western window of the nave,
    And on the pavement round the Tomb there glints
    A chequer-work of glowing sapphire-tints,
    And amethyst, and ruby; then unclose
    Your eyelids on the stone where ye repose,
    And from your broiderd pillows lift your heads,
    And rise upon your cold white marble beds;
    And, looking down on the warm rosy tints,
    Which chequer, at your feet, the illumined flints,
    Say: What is this? we are in bliss forgiven
    Behold the pavement of the courts of Heaven!
    Or let it be on autumn nights, when rain
    Doth rustlingly above your heads complain
    On the smooth leaden roof, and on the walls
    Shedding her pensive light at intervals
    The moon through the clere-story windows shines,
    And the wind washes through the mountain-pines.
    Then, gazing up mid the dim pillars high,
    The foliaged marble forest where ye lie,
    Hush, ye will say, it is eternity!
    This is the glimmering verge of Heaven, and these
    The columns of the heavenly palaces.
    And, in the sweeping of the wind, your ear
    The passage of the Angels wings will hear,
    And on the lichen-crusted leads above
    The rustle of the eternal rain of Love

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Type of Poem: Elegy

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a touching elegy to a princely pair, deeply rooted in romantic and gothic imagery. The themes of death, rest, royalty, and eternal life are intricately woven together, establishing a peaceful, solemn, and somewhat melancholic tone. The poet creates a vivid picture of their final resting place, a grand church nestled in the mountains, far removed from the hustle and bustle of their past life. The poet makes use of rich and vibrant descriptions to paint a picture of the church and its surroundings, thereby demonstrating a notable mastery of imagery.

The structure of the poem is interesting, with a consistent rhythm that propels the narrative forward. The poem is dense with symbolism, particularly religious and celestial symbols, which serve to link the earthly life to the heavenly afterlife, and to suggest an element of divine intervention in the fate of the princely pair. The use of color to depict light (sapphire, amethyst, and ruby) is noteworthy, as it adds depth to the imagery and enhances the overall ethereal feel of the poem. The poet's choice of words, particularly in the description of the setting sun and the moon, effectively captures the ephemeral beauty of life and the eternal peace of death. Overall, the poem is a rich tapestry of visual and auditory sensations, a poignant meditation on life, death, and the afterlife.