Ballads and Other Poems By Mary Howitt |
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BEATRICE
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 | Ballads and Other Poems |  |
257
BEATRICE
A Lover's Lay.
Gentle, happy Beatrice,
Visioned fair before me,
How can it a wonder be
That many so adore thee?
Visioned fair before me,
How can it a wonder be
That many so adore thee?
Old and young, and great and wise,
Set their love upon thee;
And, if gold thy heart could win,
Gold long since had won thee.
Set their love upon thee;
And, if gold thy heart could win,
Gold long since had won thee.
Social, cheerful Beatrice,
Like a plenteous river
Is the current of thy joy,
Flowing on for ever.
Like a plenteous river
Is the current of thy joy,
Flowing on for ever.
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Many call themselves thy friends;
Thou art loved of many;
And, where'er the fair are met,
Fairest thou of any.
Thou art loved of many;
And, where'er the fair are met,
Fairest thou of any.
Pious, duteous Beatrice,
All good angels move thee;
Meek and gentle as a saint,
Most for this we love thee.
All good angels move thee;
Meek and gentle as a saint,
Most for this we love thee.
I can see thee going forth
Innocent and lowly,
Knowing not how good thou art,
Like an angel holy:
Innocent and lowly,
Knowing not how good thou art,
Like an angel holy:
See thee at thy father's side,
In thy wondrous beauty,
Gladdening that benign old man
With cheerful love and duty.
In thy wondrous beauty,
Gladdening that benign old man
With cheerful love and duty.
I can see his happy smile,
As he gazes on thee;
I can feel the boundless love
That he showers upon thee.
As he gazes on thee;
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That he showers upon thee.
What a happy house thou mak'st,
Singing in thy gladness
Snatches of delicious song,
Full of old love-sadness!
Singing in thy gladness
Snatches of delicious song,
Full of old love-sadness!
How I sit and hold my breath
When the air is winging,
From some far-off pleasant room,
Breathings of thy singing!
When the air is winging,
From some far-off pleasant room,
Breathings of thy singing!
How I listen for thy foot,—
I know it, stepping airy,
On the stair or overhead,
Like a lightsome fairy!
I know it, stepping airy,
On the stair or overhead,
Like a lightsome fairy!
What a happy house it is
Where thou hast thy dwelling!
There, love, joy, and kindliness
Evermore are welling.
Where thou hast thy dwelling!
There, love, joy, and kindliness
Evermore are welling.
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Every one within the house
Loves to talk about thee:
What an altered place it were,
Beatrice, without thee!
Loves to talk about thee:
What an altered place it were,
Beatrice, without thee!
I can see thee when I list,
In thy beauty shining,
Leaning from the casement ledge
Where the rose is twining.
In thy beauty shining,
Leaning from the casement ledge
Where the rose is twining.
I can see thee looking down,
The little linnet feeding;
Or, sitting quietly apart,
Some sweet volume reading.
The little linnet feeding;
Or, sitting quietly apart,
Some sweet volume reading.
Would I were beside thee,
The pages turning over,
I'd find some cunning word or two
That should my heart discover!
The pages turning over,
I'd find some cunning word or two
That should my heart discover!
I would not heed thy laughter wild,
Laugh on, I could withstand thee;
The printed book should tell my tale,
And thou shouldst understand me.
Laugh on, I could withstand thee;
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And thou shouldst understand me.
I know thy arts, my Beatrice,
So lovely, so beguiling,
The mockery of thy merry wit,
The witchery of thy smiling.
So lovely, so beguiling,
The mockery of thy merry wit,
The witchery of thy smiling.
I know thee for a siren strong,
That smites all hearts with blindness;
And I might tremble for myself,
But for thy loving-kindness.
That smites all hearts with blindness;
And I might tremble for myself,
But for thy loving-kindness.
But for the days of by-gone years,
When I was as thy brother;
Ah! we, my faithful Beatrice,
Were meant for one another.
When I was as thy brother;
Ah! we, my faithful Beatrice,
Were meant for one another.
I'll straightway up this very day,
And ask thee of thy father:
And all the blessings life can give
In wedded life we'll gather!
And ask thee of thy father:
And all the blessings life can give
In wedded life we'll gather!
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