HOW CLEAR SHE SHINES
How clear she shines!
How quietly
I lie beneath her guardian
light;
While heaven and earth are
whispering me,
"To morrow, wake, but dream
to-night."
Yes, Fancy, come, my Fairy
love!
These throbbing temples
softly kiss;
And bend my lonely couch
above,
And bring me rest, and bring
me bliss.
The world is going; dark
world, adieu!
Grim world, conceal thee
till the day;
The heart thou canst not
all subdue
Must still resist, if thou
delay!
Thy love I will not, will
not share;
Thy hatred only wakes a
smile;
Thy griefs may wound--thy
wrongs may tear,
But, oh, thy lies shall
ne'er beguile!
While gazing on the stars
that glow
Above me, in that stormless
sea,
I long to hope that all
the woe
Creation knows, is held
in thee!
And this shall be my dream
to-night;
I'll think the heaven of
glorious spheres
Is rolling on its course
of light
In endless bliss, through
endless years;
I'll think, there's not
one world above,
Far as these straining eyes
can see,
Where Wisdom ever laughed
at Love,
Or Virtue crouched to Infamy;
Where, writhing 'neath the
strokes of Fate,
The mangled wretch was forced
to smile;
To match his patience 'gainst
her hate,
His heart rebellious all
the while.
Where Pleasure still will
lead to wrong,
And helpless Reason warn
in vain;
And Truth is weak, and Treachery
strong;
And Joy the surest path
to Pain;
And Peace, the lethargy
of Grief;
And Hope, a phantom of the
soul;
And life, a labour, void
and brief;
And Death, the despot of
the whole! |