Now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover Over the mountains, on that northern shore, Resting their wings where heath and fern-leaves cover Thy noble heart for ever, ever more?
Cold in the earth--and fifteen wild Decembers, From those brown hills, have melted into spring:
Faithful, indeed, is the spirit that remembers After such years of change and suffering!
Sweet Love of youth, forgive, if I forget thee, While the world's tide is bearing me along;Other desires and other hopes beset me, Hopes which obscure, but cannot do thee wrong!
No later light has lightened up my heaven, No second morn has ever shone for me;All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given, All my life's bliss is in the grave with thee.
But, when the days of golden dreams had perished, And even Despair was powerless to destroy;Then did I learn how existence could be cherished, Strengthened, and fed without the aid of joy.
Then did I check the tears of useless passion--
Weaned my young soul from yearning after thine;Sternly denied its burning wish to hasten Down to that tomb already more than mine.
And, even yet, I dare not let it languish, Dare not indulge in memory's rapturous pain;Once drinking deep of that divinest anguish, How could I seek the empty world again?
A DEATH-SCENE.
"O day! he cannot die When thou so fair art shining!
O Sun, in such a glorious sky, So tranquilly declining;He cannot leave thee now, While fresh west winds are blowing, And all around his youthful brow Thy cheerful light is glowing!
Edward, awake, awake--
The golden evening gleams Warm and bright on Arden's lake--
Arouse thee from thy dreams!
Beside thee, on my knee, My dearest friend, I pray That thou, to cross the eternal sea, Wouldst yet one hour delay:
I hear its billows roar--
I see them foaming high;But no glimpse of a further shore Has blest my straining eye.
Believe not what they urge Of Eden isles beyond;Turn back, from that tempestuous surge, To thy own native land.
It is not death, but pain That struggles in thy breast--