The Death Of Artemidora
By Walter Savage Landor
Artemidora! Gods invisible,
While thou art lying faint along the couch,
Have tied the sandal to thy veined feet,
And stand beside thee, ready to convey
Thy weary steps where other rivers flow.
Refreshing shades will waft thy weariness
Away, and voices like thine own come nigh,
Soliciting, nor vainly, thy embrace.
Artemidora sighd, and would have pressd
The hand now pressing hers, but was too weak.
Fates shears were over her dark hair unseen
While thus Elpenor spake: he lookd into
Eyes that had given light and life erewhile
To those above them, those now dim with tears
And watchfulness. Again he spake of joy,
Eternal. At that word, that sad word, joy,
Faithful and fond her bosom heavd once more,
Her head fell back: one sob, one loud deep sob
Swelld through the darkend chamber; t was not hers:
With her that old boat incorruptible,
Unwearied, undiverted in its course,
Had plashd the water up the farther strand.