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This passage expresses a profound sense of tranquility and serenity, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy. The narrator's soul "swooned slowly," a phrase that suggests a state of deep relaxation or trance-like state. The sound of snow falling faintly throughout the universe creates an image of infinite peace and silence, interrupted only by the soft fall of the snowflakes. The phrase "like the descent of their last end" suggests a deeper, more existential meaning to the snowfall. It implies that the snowfall, while beautiful and serene, also represents the inevitable end of all things, the finality of existence. This thought is further reinforced by the mention of "all the living and the dead," indicating that this ending is universal, affecting everyone, regardless of their state of existence. Overall, the passage conveys a profound sense of calm and tranquility, but also reveals a faint melancholy and contemplation of the end of life.