TO HIS 953 D139 wid EARLIEST AND DEAREST FRIEND, THE FOLLOWING POEMS ARE INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, AS A SLIGHT BUT SINCERE TOKEN OF AFFECTION AND ESTEEM. M271456 THE WIDOW OF NAÏN, A POEM. I. "AND why this look of wild affright, "This burning tear, and pallid brow; "Does some dark vision of the night "With stern remembrance haunt thee now? "Why thus should fancied fear appal ? 5 "Thou seest 'tis but illusion all. "Soft sleep has soothed me-and my breast "Is free from pain, except for thee; "Calm and unbroken was my rest, "And why should thine less tranquil be? "Cease then, my mother-weep no more,— 10 "Thy dream of agony is o'er: "And look not thus-I cannot bear "That look of horror and despair "Thou would'st not wish to pain me too. "Forget the fear that made thee weep; "Be calm-perchance thou yet may'st sleep. "Still dost thou linger? If in vain 15 "I plead the sufferings all thine own 20 "To urge repose, yet think again— "I plead not for thyself alone. "Think, should exhausted nature fail, "(Which from thy cheek, so deadly pale, "I augur with increasing dread) "Who then would watch beside my bed? "I know 'twould grieve thee to resign 35 Subdued his mother fondly smiled: That smile, dissolved in tears, soon fledHer words were choked-she faintly said "Jehovah bless thee, oh my child !" II. Though still, he sleeps not ceaseless pain Throbs in his burning breast again, And yet nor sighs nor murmurs break From his closed lips, lest she should wake. Fitful and faint her slumber seems, Broken by wild disordered dreams; Oh wretched mother! o'er thy breast Dark presage reigns-thou canst not rest; The sight that never yet hath been, That soon shall close in certainty. C 40 45 50 55 |