IF God compel thee to this destiny, br To die alone, with none beside thy bed br To ruffle round with sobs thy last word said br And mark with tears the pulses ebb from thee,-- br Pray then alone, ' O Christ, come tenderly ! br By thy forsaken Sonship in the red br Drear wine-press,--by the wilderness out-spread,-- br And the lone garden where thine agony br Fell bloody from thy brow,--by all of those br Permitted desolations, comfort mine ! br No earthly friend being near me, interpose br No deathly angel 'twixt my face aud thine, br But stoop Thyself to gather my life's rose, br And smile away my mortal to Divine ! 'br br Elizabeth Barrett Browningbr br