 | Life and Literary Remains of L. E. L. |  |
182
TO MRS. ---
My own kind friend, long years may pass
Ere thou and I shall meet,
Long years may pass ere I again
Shall sit beside thy feet.
Ere thou and I shall meet,
Long years may pass ere I again
Shall sit beside thy feet.
My favourite place!—I could look up,
And meet in weal or woe
The kindest looks I ever knew—
That I shall ever know.
And meet in weal or woe
The kindest looks I ever knew—
That I shall ever know.
How many hours have pass'd away
In that accustom'd place,
Thy answer lighting, ere it came,
That kind and thoughtful face.
In that accustom'd place,
Thy answer lighting, ere it came,
That kind and thoughtful face.
How many sorrows, many cares,
Have sought thee like a shrine!
Thoughts that have shunn'd all other thoughts,
Were trusted safe to thine.
Have sought thee like a shrine!
Thoughts that have shunn'd all other thoughts,
Were trusted safe to thine.
How patient, and how kind thou wert!
How gentle in thy words!
Never a harsh one came to mar
The spirit's tender chords.
How gentle in thy words!
Never a harsh one came to mar
The spirit's tender chords.
In hours of bitter suffering,
Thy low, sweet voice was near;
And every day it grew more kind,
And every day more dear.
Thy low, sweet voice was near;
And every day it grew more kind,
And every day more dear.
The bitter feelings were assuaged,
The angry were subdued,
Ever thy gentle influence
Call'd back my better mood.
The angry were subdued,
Ever thy gentle influence
Call'd back my better mood.
183
Am I too happy now?—I feel
Sometimes as if I were;
The future that before me lies,
Has many an unknown care.
Sometimes as if I were;
The future that before me lies,
Has many an unknown care.
I cannot choose but marvel too,
That this new love can be
More powerful within my heart,
Than what I feel for thee.
That this new love can be
More powerful within my heart,
Than what I feel for thee.
Didst thou, thyself, once feel such love
So strong within the mind,
That for its sake thou wert content
To leave all else behind?
So strong within the mind,
That for its sake thou wert content
To leave all else behind?
And yet I do not love thee less—
I even love thee more;
I ask thy blessing, ere I go
Far from my native shore!
I even love thee more;
I ask thy blessing, ere I go
Far from my native shore!
How often shall I think of thee,
In many a future scene!
How can affection ever be
To me, what thine has been.
In many a future scene!
How can affection ever be
To me, what thine has been.
How many words, scarce noticed now,
Will rise upon my heart,
Touch'd with a deeper tenderness,
When we are far apart!
Will rise upon my heart,
Touch'd with a deeper tenderness,
When we are far apart!
I do not say, forget me not,
For thou wilt not forget;
Nor do I say, regret me not,
I know thou wilt regret.
For thou wilt not forget;
Nor do I say, regret me not,
I know thou wilt regret.
184
And bitterly shall I regret
The friend I leave behind,
I shall not find another friend
So careful and so kind.
The friend I leave behind,
I shall not find another friend
So careful and so kind.
I met thee when my childish thoughts
Were fresh from childhood's hours,
That pleasant April time of life,
Half fancies and half flowers.
Were fresh from childhood's hours,
That pleasant April time of life,
Half fancies and half flowers.
Since then how many a change and shade,
In life's web have been wrought!
Change has in every feeling been,
And change in every thought.
In life's web have been wrought!
Change has in every feeling been,
And change in every thought.
But there has been no change in thee,
Since to thy feet I came,
In joy or sorrow's confidence,
And still thou wert the same.
Since to thy feet I came,
In joy or sorrow's confidence,
And still thou wert the same.
Farewell, my own beloved friend!
A few years soon pass by;
And the heart makes its own sweet home
Beneath a stranger sky.
A few years soon pass by;
And the heart makes its own sweet home
Beneath a stranger sky.
A home of old remembrances
Where old affections dwell;
While Hope, that looks to other days,
Soothes even this farewell.
Where old affections dwell;
While Hope, that looks to other days,
Soothes even this farewell.
Strong is the omen at my heart,
That we again shall meet;
God bless thee, till I take, once more,
My own place at thy feet!
That we again shall meet;
God bless thee, till I take, once more,
My own place at thy feet!
Letitia Elizabeth Landon.
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