| 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 | Safe in their Alabaster Chambers-- Untouched by Morning And untouched by Noon-- Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection-- Rafter of satin, And Roof of stone. Light laughs the breeze In her Castle above them-- Babbles the Bee in a stolid Ear, Pipe the Sweet Birds in ignorant cadence-- Ah, what sagacity perished here! | 他們安穩雪花石室裡 清晨無人打擾 正午無人打擾 順服的重生者靜眠於 光滑椽梁 與石塊屋頂下 閒語輕笑 在她城堡，他們上方 忙碌工人叨嘮於麻木耳旁 無知尖聲語調的親密夥伴們 啊，多少聰慧消逝於此！ |
1859, F,0124, J.0216
第一行的「他們」指殉難者，艾蜜莉稱之為「順服的重生者」，重見天日如同重生。第9行的蜜蜂(bee)有忙碌工人的字義，鳥(bird)有傢伙的親暱用法，指當時的挖掘工人。最後一行的聰慧(sagacity)可分解為薩格(saga)的城市(city)，為謎語的提示之一。薩格有北歐中世紀傳奇小說與聖賢(sage)的用法，作女巫解釋時發音變為塞格。艾蜜莉的龐貝古城還有深層意義……
歷史紀錄
Such is the story the ruins of Pompeii tell with their mute but eloquent lips. You read it in every mouldering pile—on the corner of every silent street—in every deserted hall.
You read it in the palaces of the rich and the hovels of the poor,—in the workshop, in the forum, in the theatre, in the temples of the gods. The implements of Toil—the gewgaws of Wealth—the bath and the couch are all there. The marble halls—the vaulted ceilings—the walls gorgeous with paintings—the flowers of matchless mosaics are there—almost as bright and beautiful—almost as rich and resplendent—as when the occupants were summoned away.
Death, which swept every living thing with its fierce and fiery tide, has mercifully spared the material. ― Friends' Intelligencer, Volume 16 (1860)
Safe in their Alabaster chambers, Untouched by morning
And untouched by Noon,
Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection,
Rafter of satin,
And Roof of stone.
Light laughs the breeze
In her Castle above them,
Babbles the Bee in a stolid Ear,
Pipe the sweet Birds in ignorant cadence,
Ah, what sagacity perished here!
