 | Impressions of Italy and Other Poems |  |
314
INEZ TO MANUEL.
Should I have feared thee—when at first
I met those glances more than bright?
Should I a wise distrust have nursed?
Or sought security in flight?
I met those glances more than bright?
Should I a wise distrust have nursed?
Or sought security in flight?
Should I have trembled then and feared
Because thou wert so matchless all—
Nor, like the foolish bird, have neared
Those dangers that should most appal?
Because thou wert so matchless all—
Nor, like the foolish bird, have neared
Those dangers that should most appal?
'Twere needless—perfect as thou art
Beyond all else that's born of dust,
Had I but watched my wayward heart,
And known its weakness to mistrust!
Beyond all else that's born of dust,
Had I but watched my wayward heart,
And known its weakness to mistrust!
315
Aye! perfect as thou art—I know
That heart—so quick—so wild and warm,
Alone could seal my misery so—
And 'gainst me Fate's worst Furies arm!
That heart—so quick—so wild and warm,
Alone could seal my misery so—
And 'gainst me Fate's worst Furies arm!
Its dreams unchecked around thee cast
A deep charm that was not thine own,
And showered about thee, full and fast,
A light that strangely-dazzling shone.
A deep charm that was not thine own,
And showered about thee, full and fast,
A light that strangely-dazzling shone.
Should I have feared thee then—or fled,
When first mine eyes were met by thine?
No! 'tis mine own heart I should dread,
While feeling and while life are mine!
When first mine eyes were met by thine?
No! 'tis mine own heart I should dread,
While feeling and while life are mine!
Had I but kept a watchful guard
O'er that wild whirlwind-heart within,
'Twere well—but now, oh! now 'tis hard—
To strive—to struggle—to begin!
O'er that wild whirlwind-heart within,
'Twere well—but now, oh! now 'tis hard—
To strive—to struggle—to begin!
316
But now the dreadful charm is wrought,
And now, indeed, 'twere wise to fly
From thee—from love—from hope—from thought
To quit thy side—to shun thine eye.
And now, indeed, 'twere wise to fly
From thee—from love—from hope—from thought
To quit thy side—to shun thine eye.
Oh! now 'twere wise—'tis needful now
Thy presence—Worshipped One! to avoid,
And still to keep that rigid vow
Till Passion or—till I'm destroyed!
Thy presence—Worshipped One! to avoid,
And still to keep that rigid vow
Till Passion or—till I'm destroyed!
| Impressions of Italy and Other Poems | |