Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

We met—'twas in a crowd—and I thought he would shun me;
He came—I could not breathe, for his eye was upon me;
He spoke—his words were cold, and his smile was unalter'd;
I knew how much he felt, for his deep-toned voice falter'd.
I wore my bridal robe, and I rivall'd its whiteness.
Bright gems were in my hair, how I hated their brightness;
He called me by my name, as the bride of another—
Oh, thou hast been the cause of this anguish, my mother!

II

And once again we met, and a fair girl was near him:
He smiled, and whispered low—as I once used to hear him.
She leant upon his arm—once 'twas mine, and mine only—
I wept, for I deserved to feel wretched and lonely.
And she will be his bride! at the altar he'll give her
The love that was too pure for a heartless deceiver.
The world may think me gay, for my feelings I smother;
Oh, thou hast been the cause of this anguish, my mother!

235

THE BOARD IS FULL.

I

The board is full, we look upon
No vacant chair to-night;
Though years have passed since last we met,
For once we'll scorn their flight.
We'll laugh, and be as light of heart
As if old time stood still,
Between our cheerless parting cup,
And that which now we fill.

II

The call is vain! I miss the smile
That made the wine cup sweet;
When friends are parted, who shall say,
Thus smilingly we'll meet?
What trace we in the retrospect
Of years, however brief?
The fading of the summer flower!
The falling of the leaf!

SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER.

I

When we part, I fain would believe
Thou wilt remember how happy we've been,
But can man have leisure to grieve,
Finding new pleasures in ev'ry new scene?
Say, you'll remember!

236

II

When we part, thy varied career
Cannot but ween thy affections at last;
I shall mourn, for I shall dwell here,
Where all must waken sad thoughts of the past.
Say, you'll remember!

GIVE ME GOLD.

I

Give me gold, if hoarded treasure
Is the price of life's pleasure;
But if bliss is ne'er sold,
Why should I ask for gold?

II

Give me state, if those who number
Fawning slaves calmly slumber;
But if slaves fawn, yet hate,
Why should I ask for state?

III

If bright gems bring darksome hours,
Oh give me fields and flowers;
Pride my choice may condemn,
But content asks no gem.

SIGH NOT.

I

Sigh not, when I'm away,
Fly not far from the gay;
Buy not sorrow's dull tale,
Cry not,—will it avail?

237

Why not pleasure partake?
Die not—live for my sake,
Sigh not, when I'm away,
Fly not far from the gay.

II

Hie not to the weird sage,
Pry not into life's page,
Try not witchery's test;
Why not hope for the best?
I, not dreaming of guile,
Spy not a crime in a smile!
Sigh not when I'm away,
Fly not far from the gay.

THEY WEEP WHEN I HAVE NAMED HER.

I

They weep when I have named her! I'm sure she was more dear
To me, than all the world beside, and yet I shed no tear:
I culled the freshest roses, and twined them for her hair,
And then I sought her chamber—but, oh! she is not there!

II

They tell me I have lost her, I smile to see them mourn:
She could not thus desert me, I know she will return.
And I have deck'd her bower, with all my former care,
And now I come to seek her—but oh! she is not there!

III

I saw them kneel in silence beneath a yew tree's gloom,
They pointed to the name I loved upon a marble tomb!
And then I wept—but something forbad me to despair,
I felt that we should meet again—for oh! she is not there!

238

COME WOO ME AND WIN ME.

I

Come woo me and win me, but you must be taught
By love, and love only, my heart can be caught;
Thy wealth will not lure me, ne'er talk of thy store,
Believe me I value my happiness more.
Come woo me and win me, but you must be taught
By love, and love only, my heart can be caught.

II

I do not reject thee, I own I am free,
And made to my fancy my fetters must be;
Affection's light garland my heart will retain,
But ne'er hope to bind it with interest's chain.
Come woo me and win me, but you must be taught
By love, and love only, my heart can be caught.

THAT FROWN WAS HALF IN JEST.

I

That silly frown was half in jest,
Heigho!
We chide the being we love best,
Heigho!
And then too oft a smile is worn
To win the praise of crowds we scorn;
That frown was half in jest.

II

I thought refusals well exprest,
Heigho!
Were of true loves the surest test,
Heigho!
And so I frown'd, and bade him go,
And now I'd give the world to show
That frown was half in jest.

239

OH SING ME NO NEW SONGS TO-NIGHT.

I

Oh, sing me no new songs to-night:
Repeat the plaintive strain,
My favourite air in former years,—
Come sing it once again.
Sweet thoughts that slumber'd start to life,
And give my heart relief;
And though I weep to hear that song,
'Tis not the tear of grief.

II

Her precious record of the past
Fond memory oft conceals,
But music with her master key
The hidden volume steals;
The loves, the friends, the hopes of youth
Are stored in every leaf,
Oh, if I weep to hear that song,
'Tis not the tear of grief