almost as the rock on which it stood, abode of kings, theme of admiration

for the wise. With greater reverence and, tearful affection I beheld it as

the asylum of the long lease of love I had enjoyed there with the

perishable, unmatchable treasure of dust, which now lay cold beside me. Now

indeed, I could have yielded to all the softness of my nature, and wept;

and, womanlike, have uttered bitter plaints; while the familiar trees, the

herds of living deer, the sward oft prest by her fairy-feet, one by one

with sad association presented themselves. The white gate at the end of the

Long Walk was wide open, and I rode up the empty town through the first

gate of the feudal tower; and now St. George's Chapel, with its blackened

fretted sides, was right before me. I halted at its door, which was open; I

entered, and placed my lighted lamp on the altar; then I returned, and with

tender caution I bore Idris up the aisle into the chancel, and laid her

softly down on the carpet which covered the step leading to the communion

table. The banners of the knights of the garter, and their half drawn

swords, were hung in vain emblazonry above the stalls. The banner of her

family hung there, still surmounted by its regal crown. Farewell to the

glory and heraldry of England!--I turned from such vanity with a slight

feeling of wonder, at how mankind could have ever been interested in such

things. I bent over the lifeless corpse of my beloved; and, while looking

on her uncovered face, the features already contracted by the rigidity of

death, I felt as if all the visible universe had grown as soulless, inane,

and comfortless as the clay-cold image beneath me. I felt for a moment the

intolerable sense of struggle with, and detestation for, the laws which

govern the world; till the calm still visible on the face of my dead love

recalled me to a more soothing tone of mind, and I proceeded to fulfil the

469

The Last Man