 | Metrical Effusions |  |
174
RETROSPECTIVE STANZAS.
When first from that bewitching eye
A humid, trembling glance I caught;
Unbidden rose the pensive sigh
Of infant love, with rapture fraught.
A humid, trembling glance I caught;
Unbidden rose the pensive sigh
Of infant love, with rapture fraught.
But when I fancied I perceived
Thy bosom throb with sighs like mine,
From every fear and doubt relieved,
My pulse beat high with bliss divine.
Thy bosom throb with sighs like mine,
From every fear and doubt relieved,
My pulse beat high with bliss divine.
175
And while thy faltering tongue confest
My conquest of thy spotless heart;
My soul the welcome accents blest,
And chid the tear which dared to start.
My conquest of thy spotless heart;
My soul the welcome accents blest,
And chid the tear which dared to start.
Prophetic tear! ah, had I known
The tenure of the blessing given;
How frail, how soon for ever flown,
The dreadful truth my heart had riven!
The tenure of the blessing given;
How frail, how soon for ever flown,
The dreadful truth my heart had riven!
That eye where once with joy I read
Thought answering thought, so bright before,
Weeps not to see the tears I shed:
Its gentle lustre charms no more.
Thought answering thought, so bright before,
Weeps not to see the tears I shed:
Its gentle lustre charms no more.
That bosom, which once own'd the spell
Of heaven-born love, now still and cold,
No more, with half unconcious swell,
Its secret feelings shall unfold.
Of heaven-born love, now still and cold,
No more, with half unconcious swell,
Its secret feelings shall unfold.
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Those accents once so soft, so dear,
Which sooth'd my throbbing heart to peace;
No more shall bless my listening ear
For death hath bid them ever cease.
Which sooth'd my throbbing heart to peace;
No more shall bless my listening ear
For death hath bid them ever cease.
But never, never 'till I die—
'Till deep in earth I lie like thee,
Shall memory fail to claim a sigh
Of bitter, fond regret from me.
'Till deep in earth I lie like thee,
Shall memory fail to claim a sigh
Of bitter, fond regret from me.
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