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Saturday, July 18

RIP Jane Austen

Today is the 192nd anniversary of Jane Austen's death. Night, a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), sums up our sadness at a life cut down too soon. Below are additional posts about Jane's final days on Austenprose and Jane Austen Today, and other blogs.

Night

SWIFTLY walk o'er the western wave,
Spirit of Night!
Out of the misty eastern cave,-
Where, all the long and lone daylight,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear
Which make thee terrible and dear,-
Swift be thy flight!

Wrap thy form in a mantle grey,
Star-inwrought!
Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day;
Kiss her until she be wearied out.
Then wander o'er city and sea and land,
Touching all with thine opiate wand-
Come, long-sought!

When I arose and saw the dawn,
I sigh'd for thee;
When light rode high, and the dew was gone,
And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,
And the weary Day turn'd to his rest,
Lingering like an unloved guest,
I sigh'd for thee.

Thy brother Death came, and cried,
'Wouldst thou me?'
Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,
Murmur'd like a noontide bee,
'Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me?'-And I replied,
'No, not thee!'

Death will come when thou art dead,
Soon, too soon-
Sleep will come when thou art fled.
Of neither would I ask the boon
I ask of thee, belovèd Night-
Swift be thine approaching flight,
Come soon, soon!

Blog Posts About Jane Austen's Last Illness & Days

3 comments:

Barbara said...

It is so sad that she died at such an early age - certainly she would have delighted us with many more of her wonderful novels had she lived longer!

Ashley said...

I just watched "Miss Austen Regrets" last night. She accomplished so much, and her early death is so sad.

ChaChaneen said...

I too have been watching all the movies this spring and am now reading P & P again. Great tribute my friend! Have a great weekend!