Oft breathless list'ning heard, or seem'd to hear,
A voice of music melt upon her ear.

Slowly she wan'd, and cold and senseless grown,
Clos'd her dim eyes, herself benumb'd to stone.
Yet love in death a sickly strength supplied,

Once more she gaz'd, then feebly smil'd, and died.

1

HENRY HART MILMAN,

BRAZENOSE COLLEGE. f

Note. The foregoing fact is related in the work of Mons.

THE

PANTHEON.

PALACE of Heaven! of every God the fane!
Where rapt Devotion holds her silent reign!
At once each bosom feels thy strong controul,
Thy grandeur awes, thy beauty wins the soul.
Thee, Gothic rage and warrior pride rever'd,
The spoiler trembled, and the victor fear'd;
Each in thy dome his nation's God ador'd,
Here rais'd the suppliant hand, and dropp'd the sword.
Proud, o'er the wreck of empire swells the dome,
As, o'er the prostrate world, victorious Rome.
Sublime the scene-yet softer feelings rise,

Where Martyrs sleep, and parted Genius lies:

Ye radiant beams, the sacred spot illume,

And sport in mingled tints o'er Raphael's tomb
In full proportion stands the solid fane,
Fair as sublime, majestically plain :

Mark the bold porch, on stately columns borne,
Whose lofty brows light leafy wreaths adorn:
Now stretch the view, (the brazen gates expand,)
Pillars around and light pilasters stand:

How teem the niches with celestial life,

Where Art exults, and Nature yields the strife!
Soft o'er the pavement blends each varied hue;

Light springs the dome, and circling fills the view.
Lo! Fancy, kindling at the sight, descrys. ́

A mimic world, an emblem of the skies".

a Raphael lies buried in the Pantheon.

b Dion supposes, that the round form of the Pantheon was designed to represent the world.

Heaven's image here the Persian might adore, Wont on some mountain's brow his vows to pour, Who deems his God no narrow fanes can own,

The world his temple, highest Heaven his throne.

Here once in marble frown'd th' avenging Jove, Here stood the synod of the realms above; Bright Heroes there, enshrin'd amongst the Gods; Last the dread powers that rul'd the dark abodes. Vain phantoms !--chas'd by truth's all-piercing ray, Ye fled, like spectres from the face of day:

Now through the vaulted roof Hosannas rise,

And lift the soul in rapture to the skies.

Thus shall the world, as holy bards foretel,

To one true God the general chorus swell:
And when at last yon orbs their course have run,
When earth shall melt, and darkness shroud the sun,
Its crystal gates Heaven's temple shall display,
And light's sole fountain scatter endless day.

M

Oh! lead my steps, firm Hope, that ne'er canst tire, Ev'n to that temple's gate, and there expire,

As through the desert led the Prophet guide,

Just look'd, just saw the promis'd land, and died: There white-rob'd Saints before the throne shall fall,

One heavenly Dome, one vast Pantheon all.