University of Virginia Library

THE HEART AND ITS TREASURE.

I throned an image on a silver seat,
And poured a wealth of curves and colours round,
I fenced it in with music sad and sweet,
And made the chamber sorrow's secret ground.
I bade the lights and shadows softly meet,
And added consecration's solemn bound;
But in the morning I arose, and found
My pretty idol fallen at my feet.
And then I mourned as men that love too well,
That dearly win what they so cheaply woo—
And theirs are helpless gods, they know not who;
For when my idol from its empire fell,
It was no less my haughty spirit's knell,
And when it broke my heart was broken too.