 | The forest minstrel |  |
195
THE SISTERS.
Ann moved the reigning beauty
Of the gorgeous lighted hall,
Where incense, mirth, and melody
Combined their magic thrall;
Where smiles and silvery voices,
And soft and flashing eyes,
And wreaths, and plumes, and flashing gems,
Formed pleasure's paradise.
Of the gorgeous lighted hall,
Where incense, mirth, and melody
Combined their magic thrall;
Where smiles and silvery voices,
And soft and flashing eyes,
And wreaths, and plumes, and flashing gems,
Formed pleasure's paradise.
Where glittering forms were braiding
The graceful, dreamy dance;
And light feet flashed as mirrored stars
On rippling waters glance.
Amid this world of beauty,
Queen-like she seemed to move,
The spirit of its melody,
The soul of health and love.
The graceful, dreamy dance;
And light feet flashed as mirrored stars
On rippling waters glance.
Amid this world of beauty,
Queen-like she seemed to move,
The spirit of its melody,
The soul of health and love.
That night, within her chamber,
I heard that maiden say,
“Take these detested ornaments,
This torturing dress away;
Wash from my cheek the carmine,
The pearl-white from my neck;
How sallow is my bosom now,
How very pale my cheek!
I heard that maiden say,
“Take these detested ornaments,
This torturing dress away;
Wash from my cheek the carmine,
The pearl-white from my neck;
How sallow is my bosom now,
How very pale my cheek!
196
“Now bring my box of medicines,
The drops of opiate tell;
Oh, would this cup contained a draught
From Lethe's fabled well,
That so I might forget the pangs
That pierced my heart to-night,
As eyes that I would fain have filled,
Turned elsewhere for their light.
The drops of opiate tell;
Oh, would this cup contained a draught
From Lethe's fabled well,
That so I might forget the pangs
That pierced my heart to-night,
As eyes that I would fain have filled,
Turned elsewhere for their light.
“For heaven's sake, do not tease me
With tales of want and wo;
I paid my milliner so much,
I've nothing to bestow;
There may be young hearts breaking,
There may be widows poor,
But oh! they cannot feel the pangs,
The sickness, I endure.”
With tales of want and wo;
I paid my milliner so much,
I've nothing to bestow;
There may be young hearts breaking,
There may be widows poor,
But oh! they cannot feel the pangs,
The sickness, I endure.”
Grace walked that pleasant evening
Amid the dewy flowers,
While birds with vesper melody
Were gathering to their bowers;
The evening star was beaming
Upon the quiet scene,
With softened lustre,like a gem
Through trembling waters seen.
Amid the dewy flowers,
While birds with vesper melody
Were gathering to their bowers;
The evening star was beaming
Upon the quiet scene,
With softened lustre,like a gem
Through trembling waters seen.
The peace of dewy twilight
Lay soft o'er Nature's breast,
And all the sweet and innocent
Were sinking to their rest;
The fragrant winds were breathing
A soft and balmy hush,
And peace had spread her brooding wings
Where all pure fountains gush.
Lay soft o'er Nature's breast,
And all the sweet and innocent
Were sinking to their rest;
The fragrant winds were breathing
A soft and balmy hush,
197
Where all pure fountains gush.
And she, that white-robed maiden,
With bright brown, braided hair,
The meekest and the sweetest flower,
Where all were meek and fair,
Is stealing to the dwelling
Where want and sickness lie—
A blessing to the weary heart,
A joy-beam to the eye.
With bright brown, braided hair,
The meekest and the sweetest flower,
Where all were meek and fair,
Is stealing to the dwelling
Where want and sickness lie—
A blessing to the weary heart,
A joy-beam to the eye.
She beareth consolation,
She gives the hungry bread,
And blessings from the comforted
Are on her spirit shed.
She seems an angel presence,
A form of hope and love,
To all the wretched ministering
Sweet comforts from above.
She gives the hungry bread,
And blessings from the comforted
Are on her spirit shed.
She seems an angel presence,
A form of hope and love,
To all the wretched ministering
Sweet comforts from above.
Fair sisters and young brothers
Flock round her for a kiss;
She knows the key to each young heart,
And tunes them all to bliss.
Crowned with her parents' blessing,
She lays her down to sleep,
And health and peace beside her bed
Their pleasant vigils keep.
Flock round her for a kiss;
She knows the key to each young heart,
And tunes them all to bliss.
Crowned with her parents' blessing,
She lays her down to sleep,
And health and peace beside her bed
Their pleasant vigils keep.
| The forest minstrel | |