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42
Stanzas
Supposed to have been written by a young Frenchman, whose affections Mary Queen of Scots had engaged, and afterwards condemned him to die!
— “And in that glorious supposition think
He gains by death, who has such means to die.”
Shakespeare.
He gains by death, who has such means to die.”
Shakespeare.
I
Since thou hast seal'd my wretched doom,Thy lips pronounced, “we sever,”
I die,—yet those, fair tyrant, cease,
Nor add, “farewell for ever.”
II
Thy witching glance, thy beauteous lips,Whose power I still obey;
That look'd, and smiled me into love,
Now smile my life away!
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III
A thousand soft and rapturous deaths,Have met me in thine eye,
Then welcome still, enchanting death,
Since still by love I die.
IV
Sweet poison from each look I drank,And felt the charming death;
Imbib'd it from each magic smile,
Inhal'd it with thy breath!
V
Thy victim still, I gladly die,Of hopeless passion weary,
And still the heart you taught to throb,
Shall throb till death for Mary!
VI
This beating pulse still own her power,This wasted frame her sway,
This breath her potent voice arrest,
This soul her will obey!
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VII
Fond mem'ry still to her shall cling,To her my last thought fly,
My last faint sigh shall seek her lips,
And in their fragrance die!
VIII
Oh! happy, trembling, dying sigh,At fate I'd ne'er repine,
But gladly lose a thousand lives,
To die one death like thine!
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