Alas, alas! passion too soon exhaleth The dewy freshness of the heart's young flowers; We water them with tears, but naught availethThey wither on through all life's later hours. THE DEVOTED. STERN faces were around her bent, Yet calmly in the midst she stood, And though her lip and cheek were white, "Where is thy traitor spouse?" they said :- Was back for answer borne ;"Where is thy traitor spouse?" again, In fiercer tones they said, And sternly pointed to the rack, All rusted o'er with red! Her heart and pulse beat firm and free- O'er pallid lip, and cheek, and brow, The haughtiest chief that round her stood Had meekly owned their power. "My noble lord is placed within A safe and sure retreat" "Now tell us where, thou lady bright, As thou wouldst mercy meet, Nor deem thy life can purchase his; "But thou may'st win his broad estates, To grace thine infant heir, And life and honour to thyself, E She laid her hand upon her heart; "And if ye seek to view his form, Ye first must tear away, From round his secret dwelling-place, They quailed beneath her haughty glance, And left her all unharmed amidst Her loveliness and pride! UNREST. HEART, weary Heart! what means thy wild unrest? Heart, weary Heart! canst thou not find repose Heart, weary Heart! too idly hast thou poured 66 Something beyond!" Heart, weary Heart! oh, cease thy wild unrest- And hope to find, where Heaven's pure stars are burning, 66 IMITATION OF SAPPHO. IF to repeat thy name when none may hear me, If when thou utterest low words of greeting, If to list breathless to thine accents falling, The words that I would die again to hear: If 'neath thy glance my heart all strength forscking, LOVE'S MAGIC BLOSSOM. WHEN Love's magic blossom springeth Unfolding to the view? Why throbs the beating heart so wild, The warm blood, with eloquence Of half delicious pain? Why does, at times, each passion seem Lulled in a calm repose; Each sense infused with ecstasy, As odour fills the rose? Why beams the eye with softened light, From some immortal fountain, And taken there its home? And whence arise these day-dreams, Strange castles in the air Where one sweet form for ever floats, Why, when the saddened spirit droops Comes joy into the heart again- Why turn we often from the world, Where flowers shed perfume, and birds And only see one form amid LINES TO SARAH. YOU'VE gone afar from shady grove, Nor think you of the friends you left, Nor do you love whom once you loved- I asked thee,'Sing the farewell song!' You hurried on, as meteor bright, The iron entered in my heart, But dreadful was the throe That broke the tie that held thee fast, You left the heart that once you owned But ah, you little knew what grief, What agony was mine. I once did think of thee by day- And thought the moments ever blessed I thought thy nature gentle, true, You lit my soul, you left it dark, As if the love you once breathed forth I might have loved thee ever true, But now I've torn thee from my heart, LET US BE FRIENDS TOGETHER. LET us be friends together, While on this earth we dwell; Let not the vows we utter But may love's fire burn ever, And as we journey on through life, To mingle with the dust, Our pathway to the tomb will be 'Twill strew our passage to the grave |