| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | February 4 | | Thomas Carlyle | | London Punch |
| | (Died Feb. 4, 1881)
SHUT fast the door! Let not one vulgar din | |
| Vex the long rest of patriarchal age. | |
| But one step more eternal peace to win, | |
| England’s Philosopher! Old Chelsea’s sage! | |
| |
| How they will greet him! When he nears the home, | 5 |
| Where dwell the deathless spirits of the dead, | |
| Goethe and Schiller, “sovereign souls” will come | |
| To crown with immortelles his honored head. | |
| |
| Out from the unknown shore the heroes past, | |
| Cromwell of England, Frederick the Great, | 10 |
| Will lead the grand procession and recast | |
| The roll of genius that he joined so late. | |
| |
| What will his message be from life to death, | |
| Grand hero—worshipper of years ago? | |
| “Is England true?” they’ll ask him in a breath, | 15 |
| “Faithful to history?” He’ll answer, “No.” | |
| |
| Perchance the revolution and the shame | |
| That like black shadows crossed the Commons floor, | |
| Were spared him dying. Whisper not his name, | |
| Shut fast the door! He’s sleeping! Close the door. | 20 | | | |
|
|
