To halt one little moment, stay with them:     

 "Life is so short. Delay with us a while." 

       But he rode on, and sang of joy and love.     

  

       Lorenzo il Magnifico is dead;     

       His lips are silent, and he now could halt     

       Oh, endlessly, if one of those fair maids     

       Should come to him imploring him to stay.     

       For twelve slow years within the sacristy     

       Of San Lorenzo he has never waked,     

       But has the rest he could not find in life—     

       Ungrateful now, because postponed too long.     

       If one should steal to him from out the past     

       And bending down should whisper low his name,     

       He would not hearken. True, she would be old,     

       As are all maids of that spent gala-night;     

       So, if he heard her, he would only smile,     

       For he loved only beauty in his day.     

  

       II     

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