Women must weep By Prof. F. Harald Williams [i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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NOT WICKED, BUT WEAK. |
 | Women must weep |  |
NOT WICKED, BUT WEAK.
She was pretty, she was young,
In her springtide's opening day;
Innocence about her hung,
Like the freshness of the May—
Innocence unto her clung,
Like the early morning ray—
Set its tone upon her tongue,
Breathed its beauty on her way;
Wedding bells around her rung,
Hardest labour seem'd but play,
Fragrant flowers above her swung,
Paradise before her lay.
In her springtide's opening day;
Innocence about her hung,
Like the freshness of the May—
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Like the early morning ray—
Set its tone upon her tongue,
Breathed its beauty on her way;
Wedding bells around her rung,
Hardest labour seem'd but play,
Fragrant flowers above her swung,
Paradise before her lay.
Every breeze it seem'd a kiss,
Every word it seem'd a song;
Envy pass'd her by, for this
Found no handle for a wrong,
Found she had a secret bliss,
Purity, that made her strong—
Envy, with its serpent-hiss,
Left her scatheless in the throng;
Trouble did not come amiss,
Sorrows could not linger long;
Butterfly from chrysalis,
Bright she burst each captive thong.
Every word it seem'd a song;
Envy pass'd her by, for this
Found no handle for a wrong,
Found she had a secret bliss,
Purity, that made her strong—
Envy, with its serpent-hiss,
Left her scatheless in the throng;
Trouble did not come amiss,
Sorrows could not linger long;
Butterfly from chrysalis,
Bright she burst each captive thong.
She was young, and she was fair
Like a brook where toy-boats sail,
Tripping down its stony stair,
Leaving laughter in its trail;
Sunshine crown'd her glorious hair,
With the lights that never fail;
Though the thunder in the air
Boded hours that ache and ail;
Though so close the captor's lair,
Threaten'd with its iron jail—
Lie and lust, a hideous pair,
Fought against her bosom frail.
Like a brook where toy-boats sail,
Tripping down its stony stair,
Leaving laughter in its trail;
Sunshine crown'd her glorious hair,
With the lights that never fail;
Though the thunder in the air
Boded hours that ache and ail;
Though so close the captor's lair,
Threaten'd with its iron jail—
Lie and lust, a hideous pair,
Fought against her bosom frail.
She was but a maiden weak,
Tempted, while she loved not sin—
Ignorant what art will speak,
Dream'd not how deceit may win,
How by drops destruction leak
Through the crack, however thin;
Heard not prison-hinges creak,
O'er the merry dance and din;
Knew not wrath that trifles wreak,
Blind to nets the spoilers spin,
Till the tempest from its peak
Swoop'd below and suck'd her in.
Tempted, while she loved not sin—
Ignorant what art will speak,
Dream'd not how deceit may win,
How by drops destruction leak
Through the crack, however thin;
50
O'er the merry dance and din;
Knew not wrath that trifles wreak,
Blind to nets the spoilers spin,
Till the tempest from its peak
Swoop'd below and suck'd her in.
| Women must weep | |