The Legend of Genevieve with other tales and poems. By Delta [i.e. David Macbeth Moir] |
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| III. |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. | No. III.
FALSE FLORENCE. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
 | The Legend of Genevieve |  |
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No. III. FALSE FLORENCE.
They harbour'd from the ocean,
Whereon they long had roved;
And Paul, in youth's devotion,
Sought out the maid he loved.
Whereon they long had roved;
And Paul, in youth's devotion,
Sought out the maid he loved.
His every wish was thwarted,
And hope forsook his eye,
As calm, but broken-hearted,
He laid him down to die.
And hope forsook his eye,
As calm, but broken-hearted,
He laid him down to die.
Weaker he waned, and weaker,
Unto a shade he wore;
At length, he bade them seek her,
And bring her him before.
Unto a shade he wore;
At length, he bade them seek her,
And bring her him before.
277
They sought her, and they found her,
A young, and joyful bride;
With mirthful faces round her,
A bridegroom at her side,
A young, and joyful bride;
With mirthful faces round her,
A bridegroom at her side,
They brought her to him lying,
A pale, departing man;
She gazed upon him dying,
And then to weep began.
A pale, departing man;
She gazed upon him dying,
And then to weep began.
He stretch'd his hand unto her,
And press'd her hand in his,—
“Florence, had'st thou been truer,
It had not come to this.
And press'd her hand in his,—
“Florence, had'st thou been truer,
It had not come to this.
“Yet will not I upbraid thee;
No—freely I forgive;
When low in dust they've laid me,
Long—long, and happy live!”
No—freely I forgive;
When low in dust they've laid me,
Long—long, and happy live!”
No more he said, but closing
His eyes, as if in sleep;
They thought he lay reposing—
That last repose was deep!
His eyes, as if in sleep;
They thought he lay reposing—
That last repose was deep!
| The Legend of Genevieve | |