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ItisthisharpingondeathIdespisesomuch，“heremarkedwithemphasisofgestureaswellasofspeechtheinclinedheadandbody，therighthandlightlyplaceduponthelistener’sknee，theabruptchangeintheinflectionofthevoice，allsocharacteristicofhim
“thisidleandoftencowardlyaswellasignorantharping!
Whyshouldwenotchangelikeeverythingelse？Infiction，inpoetry，insomuchofboth，FrenchaswellasEnglish，and，Iamtold，inAmericanartandliterature，theshadowofdeathcallitwhatyouwill，despair，negation，indifferenceisuponus。Butwhatfoolswhotalkthus!
Why，`amicomio’，youknowaswellasIthatdeathislife，justasourdaily，ourmomentarilydyingbodyisnonethelessaliveandeverrecruitingnewforcesofexistence。Withoutdeath，whichisourcrapelikechurchyardywordforchange，forgrowth，therecouldbenoprolongationofthatwhichwecalllife。
Pshaw!itisfoolishtoargueuponsuchathingeven。Formyself，Idenydeathasanendofeverything。NeversayofmethatIamdead!“
OntheeveningofThursday，the12thofDecember(1889)，hewasinbed，withexceedingweakness。Inthecentreoftheloftyceilingoftheroominwhichhelay，andwhereithadbeenhiswonttowork，thereisapaintingbyhisson。Itdepictsaneaglestrugglingwithaserpent，andisillustrativeofasuperbpassageinShelley’s“RevoltofIslam“。Whatmemories，whatdeepthoughts，itmusthavesuggested；howsignificant，tous，thecircumstance!
Butweakasthepoetwas，heyetdidnotseetheshadowwhichhadbeguntochilltheheartsofthewatchers。
ShortlybeforethegreatbellofSanMarcostruckten，heturnedandaskedifanynewshadcomeconcerning“Asolando“，publishedthatday。Hissonreadhimatelegramfromthepublishers，tellinghowgreatthedemandwasandhowfavourableweretheadvance-articlesintheleadingpapers。Thedyingpoetsmiledandmuttered，“Howgratifying!“
WhenthelasttollofSt。Mark’shadleftadeeperstillnessthanbefore，thosebythebedsidesawayetprofoundersilenceonthefaceofhimwhomtheyloved。
Itisneedlesstodwelluponthegriefeverywherefeltandexpressedfortheirreparableloss。ThemagnificentclosinglinesofShelley’s“Alastor“
musthaveoccurredtomanyamourner；forgone，indeed，was“asurpassingSpirit“。ThesuperbpompoftheVenetianfuneral，thesolemngrandeuroftheintermentinWestminsterAbbey，donotseemworthrecording：soinsignificantarealltheseaccidentsofdeathmadebythesupremefactitself。YetitisfittingtoknowthatVenicehasneverinmoderntimesaffordedamoreimpressivesight，thanthosecrapedprocessionalgondolasfollowingthehighflower-strewnfuneral-bargethroughthethrongedwaterwaysandoutacrossthelagoontothedesolateIsleoftheDead：thatLondonhasrarelyseenaughtmoresolemnthanthefog-duskedCathedralspaces，echoingatfirstwiththeslowtrampofthepall-bearers，andthenwiththesweetaerialmusicswayingup
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