University of Virginia Library

To ****

As woman, thy heart did deceive me—
As woman, thy soul did forsake;
Though young, thou in liet'st to grieve me—
Though steadfast, thou sought'st me to shake—
Though trusted, thy reed did impierce me!
Though faultless, thou did'st me belie—
Though troubled, thou still did'st ensnare me;
But virtue will triumph when slander shall die.
Though scanty, did'st lavish my treasure—
Though flindered, no Lydia could buy me;
Though sated, thou heape'st my measure—
Though wounded, thou never can'st kill me;
Though exiled, no Persia can lure me—
Though blasted, my jewels shall shine;—
Though swordless, my virtue shall shield me,
While thou shalt atone for the crime!
Though the pearl from the sea of my glory,
Shall trickle in gems over dear—
Though, for days that are past, I am sorry!
My heart has grown callous in care.
Though woman, thy obloquy tore me!
By whom all my heart-strings were riven!
I've sworn that my soul shall forget thee,
And cast all my sorrows in heaven.
Though my heart-strings by sorrows are riven!
And my cause litigated in youth—
Though my soul's depositions are given,
They are vows from the witness of truth,
Though poison has sated my chalice,
Where nectar has sparkled divine;
Thy soul in the gulf of its malice,
Shall strangle, as in payment of thine!
When the vows from the lips of a villian,
Brought tears on the cheek I thought true,
The sight drained my heart of a million;—
Thou art false as Jehovah is true.
Thou hast bartered the pride of my morning
For sorrows I ne'er can forget!
Thou hast given my childhood a warning,
By filling my soul with regret.
Though my tendrils of youth were entwining
The neck of my mother so dear;
I must barter my glory for pining,
And pay this oblation—a tear!
But my soul shall forget thee and slander,
As I bid recollection depart!
Though my feet may be tempted to wander,
Yet, I never shall murmur at heart.
For things that are past, I am sorry!
Like an eagle exultingly driven,
I rise from the ark of my glory,
And perch on the Cedars of heaven.
Then, farewell! for love cannot hold us—
That spark, like a rock on the wave,
Has sunk! and its absence shall part us,
Like man, when he sinks in the grave!
I am sorry I ever beheld thee!
And more, that I felt a regret;
I have sworn that my heart shall forget thee,
But live, such a blight to forget!
'Tis the last! human speech cannot curse thee,
Such guilt, for itself must atone!
If my pen were to stoop to condemn thee,
My soul would be ever undone!
Then, why should I falter and languish?
My pride shall be lofty as ever;
I will drag out the briars of anguish,
And triumph forever and ever!