ZANE (Giacomo, a Venetian poet), 1529-1560. "_I should like to live._"
There is dispute about these words; some writers say his last words were: "I should _not_ like to live."
ZEISBERGER (David, German missionary among the American Indians, author of a number of books in the language of the Delaware Indians), 1721-1808. "_I am going, my people, to rest from all my labors and to be at home with the Lord. He has never forsaken me in distress, and will not forsake me now. I have reviewed my whole life, and found that there is much to be forgiven._"
ZENO, or ZENON (Greek philosopher and founder of the school of the Stoics), about B. C. 355--about B. C. 257. "_Earth, dost thou demand me?
I am ready._" Last recorded words.
The occasion of the philosopher"s death is related as follows: "One day, as he was coming out of his school, he ran against some object and broke his finger; this he considered as an intimation from the G.o.ds that he must soon die; and, immediately striking the ground with his hand, he said, "Earth, dost thou demand me? I am ready." Instead of seeking to have his finger healed, he deliberately strangled himself.
"He had taught publicly forty-eight years without intermission; and, reckoning from the time when he commenced his studies under Crates, the Cynic, he had devoted himself to philosophy for sixty-eight years."--_Fenelon._
ZIMMERMANN (Johann Georg von, eminent Swiss physician of the eighteenth century, and author of a famous essay on "Solitude"), 1728-1795. "_I am dying; leave me alone._"
He was completely deranged for some time before his death.
ZINZENDORF (Nicolaus Ludwig, Count and Lord of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf, founder of the Moravian Church, and the author of a number of beautiful hymns), 1700-1760. Around his bed more than a hundred members of the community gathered to receive his blessing, and hear his last council and encouragement. When he had spoken kindly to them all he said to his son-in-law: "_Now, my dear son, I am going to the Saviour.
I am ready; I am quite resigned to the will of my Lord. If He is no longer willing to make use of me here I am quite ready to go to Him, for there is nothing more in my way._" His son-in-law offered prayer, and as he closed with the pet.i.tion, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace," the great and holy man fell asleep in his Saviour.
ZWINGLE, or ZWINGLIUS (a Swiss Reformer who was killed at the battle of Cappel), 1484-1531. "_Can this be considered a calamity? Well! they can, indeed, kill the body, but they are not able to kill the soul._" Said after receiving a mortal wound.
EPILOGUE
Great men may by their courage and virtue fortify us against the terrors of death, if by their vices, and fears begotten of vices, they do not distress us ten-fold more than we were distressed before; they may point the way from a present twilight to the infinite day-dawn beyond; and yet in the end must every pilgrim choose for himself the road over which he is to journey. The foregoing pages give only the experiences of others.
Nevertheless, they may soften in our minds the dark outlines of the landscape, and cast a ray of light into the great unseen. Happy is the soul that in an age of doubt and uncertainty can trust, even though it be with trembling faith, One greater than the greatest, and Who has named Himself the Resurrection and the Life!
Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark;
For tho" from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar.
_Tennyson._