And must this parting be our very last? Give me one look before my life be gone, No! I shall love thee still, when death itself is Oh! give me that, and let me not despair, past. One last fond look! and now repeat the prayer." Half could I bear, methinks, to leave this earth, He had his wish, had more: I will not paint And thee, more loved than aught beneath the sun, With tender fears, she took a nearer view, Her terrors doubling as her hopes withdrew ; Of one dear pledge; but shall there then be He tried to smile; and, half succeeding, said, none, In future time, no gentle little one, To clasp thy neck, and look, resembling me? THOMAS CAMPBELL. THE MOURNER. YES! there are real mourners, - I have seen But when her wearied parents sunk to sleep, Happy he sailed, and great the care she took, His messmates smiled at flushings on his cheek, And he too smiled, but seldom would he speak; For now he found the danger, felt the pain, With grievous symptoms he could not explain. He called his friend, and prefaced with a sigh A lover's message, "Thomas, I must die; Would I could see my Sally, and could rest My throbbing temples on her faithful breast, And gazing go!- if not, this trifle take, And say, till death I wore it for her sake: Yes! I must die-blow on, sweet breeze, blow on "Yes! I must die "--and hope forever fled. Still long she nursed him; tender thoughts meantime Were interchanged, and hopes and views sublime. She came with smiles the hour of pain to cheer, One day he lighter seemed, and they forgot The care, the dread, the anguish of their lot; They spoke with cheerfulness, and seemed to think, -- Yet said not so - Then gazed affrighted; but she caught a last, She placed a decent stone his grave above, Neatly engraved, - an offering of her love: For that she wrought, for that forsook her bed, Awake alike to duty and the dead ; She would have grieved, had friends presumed to spare The least assistance, 't was her proper care. GEORGE CRABBE "Dear Lord!" she saith, "to many a home From wind and wave the wanderers come; I only see the tossing foam Of stranger keels. TO LUCASTA. IF to be absent were to be Away from thee; Or that, when I am gone, You or I were alone; Then, my Lucasta, might I crave Pity from blustering wind or swallowing wave. But I'll not sigh one blast or gale Or pay a tear to 'suage The foaming blue-god's rage; Though seas and lands be 'twixt us both, Like separated souls, All time and space controls: Above the highest sphere we meet, Unseen, unknown; and greet as angels greet. So, then, we do anticipate Our after-fate, ROBERT BURNS. LOVE'S MEMORY. FROM ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL." I AM undone there is no living, none, His arched brows, his hawking eye, his curls, SHAKESPEARE. THE SUN UPON THE LAKE IS LOW. THE sun upon the lake is low, The wild birds hush their song, The hills have evening's deepest glow, Yet Leonard tarries long. Now all whom varied toil and care From home and love divide, The noble dame on turret high, The village maid, with hand on brow For Colin's darkening plaid. Now to their mates the wild swans row, By day they swam apart, And to the thicket wanders slow The hind beside the hart. The woodlark at his partner's side All meet whom day and care divide, But Leonard tarries long! SIR WALTER SCOTT. |