William Baxter The Death of the Nightingale (1851)

FROM THE

=================================================================
S O U T H E R N   L I T E R A R Y   M E S S E N G E R.
PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM--JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
=================================================================
 VOL. XVII. RICHMOND, OCTOBER & NOVEMBER, 1851. NO. 10 & 11. 
=================================================================

 

The Death of the Nightingale.

FROM THE GERMAN.
 
Yes she is dead, who sung the songs of May;
                The songstress sweet,
Who charmed the grove with her sweet, simple lay,
                Lies at my feet.

Her sweet tones find an echo in my breast,
                In my sad hours;
When by the brook I lay me down to rest,
                Among the flowers.

She poured in death from out her swelling throat,
                Her sweetest strain;
While echo from the rocks around, each note
                Gave back again.

At even there, the rustic's song is heard,
                And maidens gay
Oft meet to dance, where sung the pensive bird,
                At close of day.

There came a youth, who once had heard her lays,
                And by his side
There stood, and hung enraptured by his gaze,
                His fair young bride.

They clasp their hands, while up to mem'ry springs
                The whispered tale
They there did breathe, ere thou didst cease to sing,
                Sad Nightingale.

Silent they stood, until the Curfew's note
                Rung out aloud;
And Hesperus, who seemed in gold to float,
                Burst from a cloud.

They then at twilight sought their peaceful cot,
                And sank to rest;
Yet ere they slept, a sigh for thy sad lot,
                Escaped each breast.
AZIM.

 

[Southern Literary Messenger XVII (October and November 1851): 624.]

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      William Baxter's "The Death of the Nightingale" was first published in the Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. XVII, No. 10 and 11, October and November 1851, p. 624. This volume, published in Richmond, Virginia, was edited by John R. Thompson.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 5 May 2000.
Updated 28 June 2003.

William Baxter The Death of the Nightingale (1851)
Back to William Baxter Page
Back to Restoration Movement Texts Page