 | Judith, Esther, and other poems |  |
36
ADOLPHUS.
Adolphus—oh! I know him well!
Though wicked tongues surround him
Well can this faithful bosom tell
What it has ever found him.
Though wicked tongues surround him
Well can this faithful bosom tell
What it has ever found him.
When screened by greatness' powerful shade,
To greatness' faults a stranger,
He scorned to wrong a lowly maid
With no one to avenge her.
To greatness' faults a stranger,
He scorned to wrong a lowly maid
With no one to avenge her.
And in the glad procession, once,
With Fame's loud trumpet calling,
He turned him from a royal dunce
To help a beggar falling.
With Fame's loud trumpet calling,
He turned him from a royal dunce
To help a beggar falling.
Now wicked tongues traduce his name
And envious ears receive it,
But though from half the world it came,
I never would believe it.
And envious ears receive it,
But though from half the world it came,
I never would believe it.
I fright me for his noble heart,
I fear his grief will break it,
Let me, Adolphus, bear a part,—
'Twould bless me to partake it.
I fear his grief will break it,
Let me, Adolphus, bear a part,—
'Twould bless me to partake it.
37
Though prison walls enclosed thee now
And myriads sighed to please me,
Still, still, exulting in my vow
I'd quit them all to ease thee.
And myriads sighed to please me,
Still, still, exulting in my vow
I'd quit them all to ease thee.
And though thy honours budding bright
The changeful winds have blighted,
I'll cheer me through thy coming night
With hopes to see thee righted.
The changeful winds have blighted,
I'll cheer me through thy coming night
With hopes to see thee righted.
But if the tempest rushing near
Their heaven-fixt roots should sever,
I'll love thee for thy fall more dear,—
And leave thee, never, never.
Their heaven-fixt roots should sever,
I'll love thee for thy fall more dear,—
And leave thee, never, never.
| Judith, Esther, and other poems | |