‘EARTH TO EARTH, AND DUST TO DUST.’
By E. S. Lane
The following beautiful and touching poem is taken from the New English Reader, the reader of my schoolboy days. I have known it by heart since then, and doubtless many others of my age well remember it. It has been once published in the Review, but I would very much like to see it republished as now revised to correspond with the present truth. “Earth to earth, and dust to dust.”
Here the evil and the just,
Here the youthful and the old,
Here the fearful and the bold,
Here the matron and the maid,
In their silent beds are laid;
Here the vassal and the king
Side by side lie withering;
Here the sword and scepter rust,—
“Earth to earth, and dust to dust.” Age on age has rolled along
O’er this pale and mighty throng;
Those that wept them, those that weep,
Soon shall with these sleepers sleep.
Brothers, sisters, of the worm,
Summer’s sun or winter’s storm,
Song of peace or battle’s roar,
Ne’er shall break their slumbers more:
Death shall keep his solemn trust—
“Earth to earth, and dust to dust.” But a day is coming fast,
Earth, thy mightiest and thy last!
It shall come in fear and wonder,
Heralded with trump and thunder;
It shall come in strife and toil;
It shall come in blood and spoil;
It shall come in empires’ groans,
Burning temples, trampled thrones:
Then, Ambition, rue thy lust,—
“Earth to earth, and dust to dust.” Soon shall come the Judgment sign;
In the east the King shall shine.
Flashing from heaven’s golden gate,
Thousand thousands on Him wait,—
Ransomed ones with crown and plume,
Rescued from the sullen tomb.
Heaven shall open on their sight,
And shall glow with living light,
Welcoming the ransomed just
Now redeemed from earth and dust. Then thy mount, Jerusalem,
Shall be gorgeous as a gem;
Then shall in this city rise
Fruits of more than paradise;
Heaven by human feet be trod,—
Ransomed kings and priests of God,—
Till are dried the martyr’s tears
Through a thousand glorious years.
Now in hope of Him we trust,
Who redeems from earth and dust.