CARDINAL BEMBO'S EPITAPH ON RAPHAEL

I have lived with shades so long,

And talked to them so oft,

Since forth from cot and croft

I went mankind among,

That sometimes they

In their dim style

Will pause awhile

To hear my say;

And take me by the hand,

And lead me through their rooms

In the To-be, where Dooms

Half-wove and shapeless stand:

And show from there

The dwindled dust

And rot and rust

Of things that were.

“Now turn,” spake they to me

One day: “Look whence we came,

And signify his name

Who gazes thence at thee.” -

— “Nor name nor race

Know I, or can,”

I said, “Of man

So commonplace.

“He moves me not at all;

I note no ray or jot

Of rareness in his lot,

Or star exceptional.

Into the dim

Dead throngs around

He'll sink, nor sound

Be left of him.”

“Yet,” said they, “his frail speech,

Hath accents pitched like thine -

Thy mould and his define

A likeness each to each -

But go! Deep pain

Alas, would be

His name to thee,

And told in vain!”

Feb. , .