University of Virginia Library

I.

A lover conquered passion,—and he let
The great sweet chance slip through his fingers quite:
But was he closer unto God that night,
Knowing that passion's golden sun had set?
Did no wild storms of anguish and regret
Sweep o'er his lonely couch,—whereon a white
Soft figure should have lain?—the battle of right
Had been fought out—the victory won,—and yet....
All through that night he tossed about,—in dreams
Seeing a rose ungathered beckoning him:
Seeing the sudden flash of white that gleams
Above the bodice-lacework's loosened rim:
Waking and grasping—just the cold moonbeams!
Till morning broke,—rainy and weird and dim.