 |
 | The Josephine Gallery |  |
49
JOSEPHINE.
Thou, who didst seem in youth to be
Sustained alike through good or ill,
By star, or fate, or destiny,
That told thee of a triumph still!
Sustained alike through good or ill,
By star, or fate, or destiny,
That told thee of a triumph still!
While the great hope of future good
Dispelled the dreary prison's gloom,
Was there no warning understood
Of evil also in thy doom?
Dispelled the dreary prison's gloom,
Was there no warning understood
Of evil also in thy doom?
Could not the voice that had such power,
To bring thee dreams of future fame,
Prepare thee for that after hour,
Of deep disgrace and bitter shame?
To bring thee dreams of future fame,
Prepare thee for that after hour,
Of deep disgrace and bitter shame?
Did not the glass, where thou couldst see
The crownèd queen, and honored wife,
E'er show thee, in sad prophecy,
Thy worse than widowed close of life?
The crownèd queen, and honored wife,
E'er show thee, in sad prophecy,
Thy worse than widowed close of life?
Alas! alas! thy future shows
How vain are hope's delusive gleams—
True wisdom never comes to those,
Who trust in sorceries and dreams.
How vain are hope's delusive gleams—
True wisdom never comes to those,
Who trust in sorceries and dreams.
50
No knowledge can avail but this,
Of all men ever learned or heard,
To know God's will and promises
And knowing, take him at his word.
Of all men ever learned or heard,
To know God's will and promises
And knowing, take him at his word.
Yet in thy darkest hour of shame,
Whate'er thy sins and follies past,
Who would not pity more than blame,
And weep above thy fall at last.
Whate'er thy sins and follies past,
Who would not pity more than blame,
And weep above thy fall at last.
Yea, weep for thee, that heavy day,
Thou stoodst aside, uncheered, alone,
That Austria's beauty might have way
To pass unhindered to the throne.
Thou stoodst aside, uncheered, alone,
That Austria's beauty might have way
To pass unhindered to the throne.
Yet lo! how surely future years,
Avenge the evils of the past,
For all thy sorrows, and thy tears,
Thou surely art repaid, at last.
Avenge the evils of the past,
For all thy sorrows, and thy tears,
Thou surely art repaid, at last.
And he who hoped by wrong like this,
To gain a good for future years,
Has shown how less than foolishness
Man's wisdom in the end appears.
To gain a good for future years,
Has shown how less than foolishness
Man's wisdom in the end appears.
No farther than the meanest may,
Could pierce that proud and kingly glance,
Thy royal son, not his to day,
Wears the imperial crown of France.
Could pierce that proud and kingly glance,
Thy royal son, not his to day,
Wears the imperial crown of France.
86
MARIE LOUISE.
Who journeys thus onward,
Light-hearted and gay,
As if to a triumph
She passed on her way?
No exile, most surely—
Not thus do they come,
Who are leaving behind them
A heart and a home.
Light-hearted and gay,
As if to a triumph
She passed on her way?
No exile, most surely—
Not thus do they come,
Who are leaving behind them
A heart and a home.
Can she go so lightly,
And joyously back,
Who went to her bridal
So late o'er this track?
Could she smile as when hastening
To welcoming arms,
If shut from the circle
Of home and its charms?
And joyously back,
Who went to her bridal
So late o'er this track?
Could she smile as when hastening
To welcoming arms,
If shut from the circle
Of home and its charms?
Oh, matchless in beauty,
And kingly in line!
No heart of a woman
Can surely be thine:
Else wouldst thou, this moment,
Thy husband uncrowned,
Weep in sackcloth and ashes,
And sit on the ground.
And kingly in line!
No heart of a woman
Can surely be thine:
87
Thy husband uncrowned,
Weep in sackcloth and ashes,
And sit on the ground.
Is this, proud Napoleon,
The pride of thy home?
Can this be thy mother,
O pale king of Rome?
Alas! we may mourn thee,
But pity who can,
More fickle than woman,
And falser than man.
The pride of thy home?
Can this be thy mother,
O pale king of Rome?
Alas! we may mourn thee,
But pity who can,
More fickle than woman,
And falser than man.
It was well that the exile,
Shut in by the sea,
Still might solace his anguish
By memory of thee—
Still could keep through all suffering,
Of body and mind,
One blest spot in memory
Where thou wert enshrined;
Shut in by the sea,
Still might solace his anguish
By memory of thee—
Still could keep through all suffering,
Of body and mind,
One blest spot in memory
Where thou wert enshrined;
Trusting on in a faith
Which no time could remove,
In the strength of thy virtue,
And depth of thy love;
For his heart, but for this,
In its hardness had been
As the rocks of the ocean
That girdled him in.
Which no time could remove,
In the strength of thy virtue,
And depth of thy love;
For his heart, but for this,
In its hardness had been
As the rocks of the ocean
That girdled him in.
88
Oh, regally wedded,
And regally born!
Not thy state nor thy beauty
Can save thee from scorn;
And more deeply we mourn thee,
Content in thy home,
Than the Emperor exiled,
Or dead king of Rome.
And regally born!
Not thy state nor thy beauty
Can save thee from scorn;
And more deeply we mourn thee,
Content in thy home,
Than the Emperor exiled,
Or dead king of Rome.
108
CHARLOTTE CORDAY.
Who is this, with calm demeanor,
And with form of matchless grace,
Wearing yet the modest beauty
Of her childhood in her face?
And with form of matchless grace,
Wearing yet the modest beauty
Of her childhood in her face?
Close the white folds of her kerchief
All her neck and bosom wrap,
And her soft brown hair is hidden
Underneath her Norman cap.
All her neck and bosom wrap,
And her soft brown hair is hidden
Underneath her Norman cap.
And what doth she in such garments,
And with such a modest mien,
Here among the high-born beauties
Of the court of Josephine?
And with such a modest mien,
Here among the high-born beauties
Of the court of Josephine?
This is she who left the convent,
For the fierce and restless throngs,
Who were gathering head for battle,
To avenge her country's wrongs.
For the fierce and restless throngs,
Who were gathering head for battle,
To avenge her country's wrongs.
109
This is she who to its rescue,
Was the foremost to advance—
She who struck to death the tyrant
Of her well beloved France.
Was the foremost to advance—
She who struck to death the tyrant
Of her well beloved France.
She who had the martyr's spirit
To perform as she had planned;
Taking thus her life's sweet promise
In her own presumptuous hand.
To perform as she had planned;
Taking thus her life's sweet promise
In her own presumptuous hand.
All the while, herself deceiving,
With this dangerous subtletry,
“Evil, surely, is not evil
If a good is gained thereby.
With this dangerous subtletry,
“Evil, surely, is not evil
If a good is gained thereby.
“If I perish for my country,
Is not this a righteous deed?
If I save the lives of thousands,
What is it that one should bleed?”
Is not this a righteous deed?
If I save the lives of thousands,
What is it that one should bleed?”
So, arraigned at the tribunal,
This alone was her reply—
“It was I who did this murder,
And I do not fear to die.”
This alone was her reply—
“It was I who did this murder,
And I do not fear to die.”
Therefore, with her simple garments,
And her unassuming port,
Have they placed her lovely picture
Near the beauties of the Court:
And her unassuming port,
Have they placed her lovely picture
Near the beauties of the Court:
110
Therefore pitying admiration,
More than blame for her we feel—
Hers was noble and heroic,
Though it was mistaken zeal.
More than blame for her we feel—
Hers was noble and heroic,
Though it was mistaken zeal.
And so long as France shall honor
Those whose blood for her is shed,
Shall the name of Charlotte Corday
Live among the martyred dead!
Those whose blood for her is shed,
Shall the name of Charlotte Corday
Live among the martyred dead!
122
MADAME ROLAND.
A mien of modest loveliness,
A brow on which no shadow lies,
And woman's soul of truthfulness
Outlooking from soft hazel eyes:
A brow on which no shadow lies,
And woman's soul of truthfulness
Outlooking from soft hazel eyes:
Thy placid features only show,
The happy mother, faithful wife,
Not her whose fate it was to know
All strange vicissitudes of life.
The happy mother, faithful wife,
Not her whose fate it was to know
All strange vicissitudes of life.
Unnoticed in thy youthful days
It was thy happy lot to move,
Brightening life's unobtrusive ways
With the sweet ministries of love,
It was thy happy lot to move,
Brightening life's unobtrusive ways
With the sweet ministries of love,
And learning the great truths of life,
That best are learned in solitude,
But only in its after strife
Are ever proved or understood!
That best are learned in solitude,
But only in its after strife
Are ever proved or understood!
123
That toiling early, toiling late,
For others, is our highest bliss—
Man even, in his best estate,
Hath no more happiness than this.
For others, is our highest bliss—
Man even, in his best estate,
Hath no more happiness than this.
Such truth it was, that even there,
Where reigned the prison's gloom and chill,
Could keep thee wholly from despair,
And make thee toil for others still,
Where reigned the prison's gloom and chill,
Could keep thee wholly from despair,
And make thee toil for others still,
Till thine own sorrows half forgot,
Thy noblest sacrifice was shown,
In words and deeds for those whose lot
Was far more wretched than thine own.
Thy noblest sacrifice was shown,
In words and deeds for those whose lot
Was far more wretched than thine own.
Yet well for thee our tears may flow,
Though high thy name emblazoned stands,
Thou, with a woman's heart, couldst know
No life that woman's heart demands.
Though high thy name emblazoned stands,
Thou, with a woman's heart, couldst know
No life that woman's heart demands.
Happier than thou, with fame and wealth,
Is she who cheers earth's humblest place;
Leaving no picture of herself,
Save in a daughter's modest face.
Is she who cheers earth's humblest place;
Leaving no picture of herself,
Save in a daughter's modest face.
152
MADAME TALLIEN.
With a form of wondrous beauty
And of most unrivalled grace,
With a voice of winning sweetness
And a fair and witching face,
And of most unrivalled grace,
With a voice of winning sweetness
And a fair and witching face,
From the pleasant paths of girlhood
She came up with joy elate,
And took thoughtlessly upon her
All a matron's care and state.
She came up with joy elate,
And took thoughtlessly upon her
All a matron's care and state.
And we scarce can ever wonder
That her life so careless seems—
She is now but just emerging
From her childhood's thoughtless dreams.
That her life so careless seems—
She is now but just emerging
From her childhood's thoughtless dreams.
And she has not learned the lesson,
That can only come with years—
That our life is not for pleasure,
But for labor and for tears.
That can only come with years—
That our life is not for pleasure,
But for labor and for tears.
But behold her, by misfortune,
From her height of pleasure hurled;
Hath she seen how unsubstantial
Are the honors of the world?
From her height of pleasure hurled;
Hath she seen how unsubstantial
Are the honors of the world?
153
Doth she view her life as something
That was profitless and vain?
What hath been to her the discipline
Of sorrow and of pain?
That was profitless and vain?
What hath been to her the discipline
Of sorrow and of pain?
Alas! that heaviest trial,
Lonely thought, and fiery strife,
Could not change the heart within her,
Nor the purpose of her life.
Lonely thought, and fiery strife,
Could not change the heart within her,
Nor the purpose of her life.
For she lived by fitful impulse,
Doing sometimes deeds of good;
Sometimes, in red wine washing
Out the memories of blood.
Doing sometimes deeds of good;
Sometimes, in red wine washing
Out the memories of blood.
Reigning as the queen of beauty,
With an undisputed claim;
Hiding with a crown of roses
All her forehead's crimson shame.
With an undisputed claim;
Hiding with a crown of roses
All her forehead's crimson shame.
Yet we would not quite condemn her,
Unto perfect infamy,
For she seemed to have within her
Something better than we see.
Unto perfect infamy,
For she seemed to have within her
Something better than we see.
And she might have added virtue
To her beauty and her grace,
If her lines of life had fallen
In a good and pleasant place.
To her beauty and her grace,
If her lines of life had fallen
In a good and pleasant place.
180
MADAME JUNOT.
DUCHESS D'ALBRANTES.
From her mother earth's kind bosom,
Once a vine with tender blossom
Lifted up its pretty head.
Glad within, how glad without her,
Seemed the world that lay about her
With its sunshine overspread.
Once a vine with tender blossom
Lifted up its pretty head.
Glad within, how glad without her,
Seemed the world that lay about her
With its sunshine overspread.
In her loveliness and meekness,
Knowing all her nature's weakness,
And that she alone must fall;
Said she, “This can be no longer,
I must lean on something stronger,
If I grow or live at all.
Knowing all her nature's weakness,
And that she alone must fall;
Said she, “This can be no longer,
I must lean on something stronger,
If I grow or live at all.
“All these trees that stand about me
Are but rugged things without me,
Wherefore should I be afraid?
If I well perform my duty,
If I bring them grace and beauty,
Surely they will give me aid.”
Are but rugged things without me,
Wherefore should I be afraid?
If I well perform my duty,
If I bring them grace and beauty,
Surely they will give me aid.”
181
So she listened to the proffer
Of an ancient tree, whose offer,
Met her first appealing look;
To him all her sweetness bringing,
With her tendrils round him clinging,
She all other aid forsook.
Of an ancient tree, whose offer,
Met her first appealing look;
To him all her sweetness bringing,
With her tendrils round him clinging,
She all other aid forsook.
But alas! the mournful sequel,
Proves that unions so unequal
Never in the world are blest.
She could neither change nor cover
The defects of such a lover—
Neither bless him, nor be blest.
Proves that unions so unequal
Never in the world are blest.
She could neither change nor cover
The defects of such a lover—
Neither bless him, nor be blest.
Captive only for an hour,
Soon a bolder brighter flower
Stronger cords about him wound;
And that young vine of a summer,
Pushed off by the fair new-comer,
Fell unheeded to the ground.
Soon a bolder brighter flower
Stronger cords about him wound;
And that young vine of a summer,
Pushed off by the fair new-comer,
Fell unheeded to the ground.
Lady, with this old true story,
Of mistaken trust before thee,
And of that poor blossom's fate,
Couldst thou not take solemn warning,
Nor prepare in life's young morning,
For repentance, were too late?
Of mistaken trust before thee,
And of that poor blossom's fate,
Couldst thou not take solemn warning,
Nor prepare in life's young morning,
For repentance, were too late?
182
Vain example, vain adviser,
Still the world will grow no wiser,
Still along our way we meet
Those from whose unpitying bosom
Has fallen off the tender blossom,
That lies broken at their feet.
Still the world will grow no wiser,
Still along our way we meet
Those from whose unpitying bosom
Has fallen off the tender blossom,
That lies broken at their feet.
216
MADAME RECAMIER.
By fortune's favor early raised
To a most dangerous place,
And bountifully dowered, besides,
With loveliness and grace:
How didst thou triumph over all
Who rose like thee, though but to fall?
To a most dangerous place,
And bountifully dowered, besides,
With loveliness and grace:
How didst thou triumph over all
Who rose like thee, though but to fall?
For thou wert tempted like as they—
Ay, tempted even more—
So courted, flattered, and beloved,
Was woman ne'er before.
Yet strength was given thee from on high
To keep thy youth's first purity.
Ay, tempted even more—
So courted, flattered, and beloved,
Was woman ne'er before.
Yet strength was given thee from on high
To keep thy youth's first purity.
All men with true and noble souls
Thy firmest friends became—
While worthless suitors had thy scorn,
And fled in guilty shame.
Even royalty shrunk back subdued
By thy most noble womanhood.
Thy firmest friends became—
While worthless suitors had thy scorn,
And fled in guilty shame.
Even royalty shrunk back subdued
By thy most noble womanhood.
217
By all life's dangers and its trials,
So worthy wert thou proved,
That they who only saw, admired,
And they who knew thee, loved.
And for such purity and worth,
What was thy recompense on earth?
So worthy wert thou proved,
That they who only saw, admired,
And they who knew thee, loved.
And for such purity and worth,
What was thy recompense on earth?
Alas! while shameless infamy
Sat in her pride of place,
Thy goodness only brought to thee
Downfall and sad disgrace.
Alas! that justice should bestow,
So blindly, her rewards below.
Sat in her pride of place,
Thy goodness only brought to thee
Downfall and sad disgrace.
Alas! that justice should bestow,
So blindly, her rewards below.
Yet who can envy those who rise
By wrong to eminence?
Or who can pity thee, sustained
By conscious innocence?
Who would not rather suffer long
For right, than but one hour for wrong?
By wrong to eminence?
Or who can pity thee, sustained
By conscious innocence?
Who would not rather suffer long
For right, than but one hour for wrong?
Who would not rather have thy thoughts
In exile and alone,
Than his who kept, by tyranny,
An unsubstantial throne?
He scarce might number each offence—
Thine only one was innocence.
In exile and alone,
Than his who kept, by tyranny,
An unsubstantial throne?
He scarce might number each offence—
Thine only one was innocence.
218
And whatsoe'er our fates may be,
Whether we rise or fall,
Still One who sees, not as man sees,
Is in, and over all;
Bringing, by ways not understood,
From earthly evil, heavenly good!
Whether we rise or fall,
Still One who sees, not as man sees,
Is in, and over all;
Bringing, by ways not understood,
From earthly evil, heavenly good!
228
PAULINE BONAPARTE.
Let her name be Queen of Beauty,
For her wondrous loveliness;
She is worthy of no higher
And no better place than this.
For her wondrous loveliness;
She is worthy of no higher
And no better place than this.
Not as daughter or as sister,
Was she aught we can desire;
Not as friend, or wife, or mother,
Can we honor or admire.
Was she aught we can desire;
Not as friend, or wife, or mother,
Can we honor or admire.
And we scarce dare even whisper,
As we pause and read her name
“She had something to redeem her,
We can pity while we blame.”
As we pause and read her name
“She had something to redeem her,
We can pity while we blame.”
For no wisdom came with knowledge,
To retrieve a wasted past;
Hers was Folly's life of folly,
And its crowning act the last.
To retrieve a wasted past;
Hers was Folly's life of folly,
And its crowning act the last.
Think of an immortal creature
With a soul for endless years,
Knowing only selfish pleasures,
Weeping only selfish tears.
With a soul for endless years,
Knowing only selfish pleasures,
Weeping only selfish tears.
229
Think of any woman, troubled
By no higher thought than this—
Whether emeralds, pearls, or diamonds
Best would grace her loveliness;—
By no higher thought than this—
Whether emeralds, pearls, or diamonds
Best would grace her loveliness;—
Taxing all the little powers
Of a vain and foolish brain
With the fashion of a turban,
Or the border of a train!
Of a vain and foolish brain
With the fashion of a turban,
Or the border of a train!
Yet our Queen of Beauty's vision
Of the fullness of delight
Was a “fête for every morning,
And a ball for every night;”
Of the fullness of delight
Was a “fête for every morning,
And a ball for every night;”
And to live for pleasure only,
In a ceaseless round of mirth;
This, her estimate of duty,
And her value of life's worth.
In a ceaseless round of mirth;
This, her estimate of duty,
And her value of life's worth.
So we call her Queen of Beauty,
Yielding to her only claim;
For no deed that honors woman
Ever beautified her name.
Yielding to her only claim;
For no deed that honors woman
Ever beautified her name.
All her days were vain and idle,
As a vapor or a breath;
She was fair, but frail and sinful,
In her life and in her death.
As a vapor or a breath;
She was fair, but frail and sinful,
In her life and in her death.
230
CAROLINE BONAPARTE.
From the humblest little blossom
To the flowers of tropic climes,
All things God has made are lovely,
In their seasons and their times.
To the flowers of tropic climes,
All things God has made are lovely,
In their seasons and their times.
From the farthest star that twinkles,
To the sun with dazzling light,
Every planet is most glorious
In his own appointed height.
To the sun with dazzling light,
Every planet is most glorious
In his own appointed height.
And the oak tree is no better,
Towering in majestic pride,
Than the clinging vine, whose verdure
Covers all his rugged side.
Towering in majestic pride,
Than the clinging vine, whose verdure
Covers all his rugged side.
And the nightingale's soft music
Falls no sweeter through the dark,
Than the clear and ringing matin
Of the heaven-ascending lark.
Falls no sweeter through the dark,
Than the clear and ringing matin
Of the heaven-ascending lark.
Nature always owns God's wisdom;
Flower, and bird, and star, and sun,
Keep wherever he has placed them,
Growing, singing, shining on.
Flower, and bird, and star, and sun,
Keep wherever he has placed them,
Growing, singing, shining on.
231
When the birds of morn are chanting,
Then the nightingale doth rest;
Never any lark soars, singing,
When she should be in her nest.
Then the nightingale doth rest;
Never any lark soars, singing,
When she should be in her nest.
And each little star rejoices
In his empire of a night,
As the sun doth, in the slendor
Of his own unrivalled light.
In his empire of a night,
As the sun doth, in the slendor
Of his own unrivalled light.
Only man, of all creation,
His true limit doth o'erleap:
Only man falls down, by climbing
Up to heights he cannot keep.
His true limit doth o'erleap:
Only man falls down, by climbing
Up to heights he cannot keep.
Yet thy rise and fall, fair lady,
Makes at least this lesson plain:
Haughty pride and usurpation
Cannot keep what they can gain.
Makes at least this lesson plain:
Haughty pride and usurpation
Cannot keep what they can gain.
Thou hadst never suffered downfall,
And disgrace and banishment;
If, in thine own humble station,
Thou hadst learned to be content.
And disgrace and banishment;
If, in thine own humble station,
Thou hadst learned to be content.
Hadst thou kept thy feet from places,
Where but lawful queens had trod,
Claiming this one title only,
“Woman, by the grace of God.”
Where but lawful queens had trod,
Claiming this one title only,
“Woman, by the grace of God.”
256
MADAME DE STAËL.
Alive, thy country's highest Power
Still honored, while he feared thy name;
Dead, thou hast left a princely dower
To nations, who will guard thy fame.
Still honored, while he feared thy name;
Dead, thou hast left a princely dower
To nations, who will guard thy fame.
Such a proud gift as he who lives
For human glory only knows—
A wealth that grows by what it gives,
Increasing when it most bestows.
For human glory only knows—
A wealth that grows by what it gives,
Increasing when it most bestows.
A power, that though his work be done,
Who kindles first its beacon light,
Widens and brightens, shining on
Down through the ages from its height.
Who kindles first its beacon light,
Widens and brightens, shining on
Down through the ages from its height.
Such power, such gift, such light was thine,
O woman of unequalled mind;
And thy great legacy has been,
Not for thy country, but mankind.
O woman of unequalled mind;
And thy great legacy has been,
Not for thy country, but mankind.
257
Until a proud posterity,
Whose heart remembers to admire,
Beats its responses back to thee,
And kindles at thy words of fire.
Whose heart remembers to admire,
Beats its responses back to thee,
And kindles at thy words of fire.
And if a name the world admires,
And honors with but one accord,
Can satisfy the soul's desires,
Thou surely hast a great reward.
And honors with but one accord,
Can satisfy the soul's desires,
Thou surely hast a great reward.
Yet well might thy reward be great,
For Justice, with her stern demands,
For every good, or soon or late,
Asks for her payment at our hands.
For Justice, with her stern demands,
For every good, or soon or late,
Asks for her payment at our hands.
This was the price she claimed of thee,
This heavy sentence, signed and sealed—
“Banishment, during life, to be
Neither commuted, nor repealed.”
This heavy sentence, signed and sealed—
“Banishment, during life, to be
Neither commuted, nor repealed.”
Friends, country, love itself, was lost,
Leaving thee nothing but thy fame,
Alas! how terrible the cost,
For the poor purchase of a name!
Leaving thee nothing but thy fame,
Alas! how terrible the cost,
For the poor purchase of a name!
What human soul for this would part
With all the human soul can prize?
What woman, with a woman's heart,
Would take it at the sacrifice?
With all the human soul can prize?
What woman, with a woman's heart,
Would take it at the sacrifice?
258
HORTENSE.
Reared in that beautiful land where the sun
Makes everything which he shines on glad,
What, innocent child, couldst thou have done,
That thine after life should be so sad!
Makes everything which he shines on glad,
What, innocent child, couldst thou have done,
That thine after life should be so sad!
What evil stars in thy sky had met,
An influence over thy way to shed;
That woe's most woeful crown was set
So heavily on thy bright young head?
An influence over thy way to shed;
That woe's most woeful crown was set
So heavily on thy bright young head?
Through all the days of a troubled life,
Thine only portion was woe and tears,
As a daughter, mother, friend, or wife,
Down to the end of thy wretched years.
Thine only portion was woe and tears,
As a daughter, mother, friend, or wife,
Down to the end of thy wretched years.
Oh, brighter and better thy lot had been
Had thy early love been its own pure guide,
And they had been saved from a fearful sin
Who broke thy heart in their evil pride.
Had thy early love been its own pure guide,
And they had been saved from a fearful sin
Who broke thy heart in their evil pride.
259
Early in life began thy doom,
Of hopeless sorrow and sad disgrace;
As the prison shadow's awful gloom,
Fell heavily over thy childish face.
Of hopeless sorrow and sad disgrace;
As the prison shadow's awful gloom,
Fell heavily over thy childish face.
But bitterer, bitterer still the part
Thy womanhood was doomed to fill;
Striving to hide away in thy heart
A love which thou couldst not crush nor kill.
Thy womanhood was doomed to fill;
Striving to hide away in thy heart
A love which thou couldst not crush nor kill.
And coming sadly at last to stand
Where but happy lovers alone should wed;
And give to thy bridegroom only a hand,
In place of the heart that was cold and dead.
Where but happy lovers alone should wed;
And give to thy bridegroom only a hand,
In place of the heart that was cold and dead.
Wedding one whom thou couldst not love,
Loving one whom thou couldst not wed,
With no hope below, and no hope above,
Mourning over a first-born dead;
Loving one whom thou couldst not wed,
With no hope below, and no hope above,
Mourning over a first-born dead;
Alas! we can only mourn and weep
O'er a wasted, profitless, life-time past,
We can only hope thou art well asleep
Where the weary rest from their cares at last.
O'er a wasted, profitless, life-time past,
We can only hope thou art well asleep
Where the weary rest from their cares at last.
266
M'LLE. LENORMAND.
What strange power, to us unknown,
O'er her early years was thrown,
That, within the convent's cell,
She should study charm and spell,
To discern the things that lie
Hidden from our mortal eye—
Wisely from us still concealed
Till their time to be revealed?
O'er her early years was thrown,
That, within the convent's cell,
She should study charm and spell,
To discern the things that lie
Hidden from our mortal eye—
Wisely from us still concealed
Till their time to be revealed?
By what witchery did she bring
Statesmen, soldier, priest, and king,
In their hour of gloom or hope,
To consult her horoscope—
Thus to learn the good or ill
Waiting in their future still?
How could she assign their parts
By her dark forbidden arts?
Statesmen, soldier, priest, and king,
In their hour of gloom or hope,
To consult her horoscope—
Thus to learn the good or ill
Waiting in their future still?
How could she assign their parts
By her dark forbidden arts?
267
Haply, she could not discern
More than they who came to learn,
Could not understand or tell
What her power, or whence her spell;
Haply, she who spake, believed,
If deceiving, still deceived;
And in her we only find,
That the blind can lead the blind.
More than they who came to learn,
Could not understand or tell
What her power, or whence her spell;
Haply, she who spake, believed,
If deceiving, still deceived;
And in her we only find,
That the blind can lead the blind.
For it may be, He whose power
Shuts from us the future hour,
Keeping e'en from angels' ken
What he hath prepared for men;
When we seek in ways forbid
For the knowledge he has hid,
Leaves us to believe a lie,
And to be destroyed thereby.
Shuts from us the future hour,
Keeping e'en from angels' ken
What he hath prepared for men;
When we seek in ways forbid
For the knowledge he has hid,
Leaves us to believe a lie,
And to be destroyed thereby.
For we gain no wisdom higher
Than the wisdom we desire,
Never loud voice from the sky
Answers to a feeble cry;
Only does the Father speak
To the waiting souls that seek
Only they his truth have heard
Who have sought it in his word.
Than the wisdom we desire,
Never loud voice from the sky
Answers to a feeble cry;
Only does the Father speak
To the waiting souls that seek
Only they his truth have heard
Who have sought it in his word.
268
And but this we learn of thee,
Child of mournful destiny:
Knowledge gained, where faith is lost,
Is not worth the fearful cost.
God saith, “Every child who pleads,
Shall have answer to his needs;
Trust the future unto me,
As thy day, thy strength shall be.”
Child of mournful destiny:
Knowledge gained, where faith is lost,
Is not worth the fearful cost.
God saith, “Every child who pleads,
Shall have answer to his needs;
Trust the future unto me,
As thy day, thy strength shall be.”
269
MADAME JEROME BONAPARTE.
(MISS PATTERSON.)
No fear of future ill we trace,
No mark of sorrow, or of age—
But a most fair and girlish face
Looks on us from the pictured page;
No mark of sorrow, or of age—
But a most fair and girlish face
Looks on us from the pictured page;
Her hopeful face, who came to stand
Beside the altar, long ago,
And give her willing heart and hand
For life, with all its weal or woe;
Beside the altar, long ago,
And give her willing heart and hand
For life, with all its weal or woe;
Her happy face, who could not see,
In that sweet triumph of her power,
How short her dream of bliss would be,
How fearful its awakening hour!
In that sweet triumph of her power,
How short her dream of bliss would be,
How fearful its awakening hour!
She could not see that gloom begin,
Which o'er her morning sky was thrown,
Nor the long weary years wherein
She should go down life's vale alone.
Which o'er her morning sky was thrown,
Nor the long weary years wherein
She should go down life's vale alone.
270
Ah! well for us, we are forbid
To see what path before us lies—
Ah! wisely hath our Father hid
The future from his children's eyes.
To see what path before us lies—
Ah! wisely hath our Father hid
The future from his children's eyes.
For though the human heart can bear,
Daily, its daily weight of woe,
Yet, if revealed at once, despair
Would break it with a single blow.
Daily, its daily weight of woe,
Yet, if revealed at once, despair
Would break it with a single blow.
And God most righteously bestows
Our lots, though we be sad, or blest;
Our human wisdom only knows,
What seems, and not what is, the best.
Our lots, though we be sad, or blest;
Our human wisdom only knows,
What seems, and not what is, the best.
Our needs by Him are understood,
His guardian love no child forsakes—
He gives us compensating good
For every blessing which he takes.
His guardian love no child forsakes—
He gives us compensating good
For every blessing which he takes.
So it may be, that we are cared
For most, in darkest hours of gloom—
And, by our very sorrows, spared
From that which might have been our doom.
For most, in darkest hours of gloom—
And, by our very sorrows, spared
From that which might have been our doom.
277
GRACE INGERSOLL.
Where God placeth any creature,
Where he planteth any seed,
Each may find what best will answer
True development and need.
Where he planteth any seed,
Each may find what best will answer
True development and need.
There are blossoms on the mountains,
Braving even Alpine snow,
That would perish if transplanted
To the valleys down below.
Braving even Alpine snow,
That would perish if transplanted
To the valleys down below.
On our northern hills are roses,
Never fearing winter's breath,
That the kisses of the south-wind
Would but wither into death.
Never fearing winter's breath,
That the kisses of the south-wind
Would but wither into death.
True, the plant awhile may flourish,
Forced some foreign bower to grace,
But its root would strike down deeper
In its native soil and place.
Forced some foreign bower to grace,
But its root would strike down deeper
In its native soil and place.
278
Shut out from the earth's green places,
Is the wild bird's music best?
Does its voice not sound the sweetest
Singing nearest to its nest?
Is the wild bird's music best?
Does its voice not sound the sweetest
Singing nearest to its nest?
And thou wert like bird or blossom,
Daughter of a northern race—
Thou couldst neither sing nor florish,
Taken from thy native place.
Daughter of a northern race—
Thou couldst neither sing nor florish,
Taken from thy native place.
Going straight to woman's duties,
From thy childish joys and sports,
From the free air of the mountains,
To the atmosphere of courts,
From thy childish joys and sports,
From the free air of the mountains,
To the atmosphere of courts,
Can we marvel if the footstep,
Which trod lightly on the plain,
Should be hindered in its movement
By the drapery of the train?
Which trod lightly on the plain,
Should be hindered in its movement
By the drapery of the train?
Can we marvel, when we see her
Borne from home and friends away,
If her voice went out in silence,
And her beauty to decay?
Borne from home and friends away,
If her voice went out in silence,
And her beauty to decay?
No, we marvel not, yet mourn thee,
Lying in thy foreign tomb,
Fairest flower of all New England,
This should not have been thy doom!
Lying in thy foreign tomb,
Fairest flower of all New England,
This should not have been thy doom!
279
MADAME REGNAULT.
I think the humblest peasant girl,
Roaming the valleys free,
If loved and cherished in her home,
Could never envy thee;
But rather weep above thy fate—
So proud, and yet so desolate.
Roaming the valleys free,
If loved and cherished in her home,
Could never envy thee;
But rather weep above thy fate—
So proud, and yet so desolate.
Midst all the ladies of the court
Still wert thou most forlorn,
E'en for thy very beauty's sake
A target for their scorn;
Envy, and bitter rivalry,
Drove from their hearts all love for thee.
Still wert thou most forlorn,
E'en for thy very beauty's sake
A target for their scorn;
Envy, and bitter rivalry,
Drove from their hearts all love for thee.
And e'en the Monarch, whom through life
Thou didst revere and trust,
He, to thy worth and loveliness,
Was cruel and unjust;
O'er him, the noblest woman's power
Could last but for an idle hour.
Thou didst revere and trust,
He, to thy worth and loveliness,
Was cruel and unjust;
O'er him, the noblest woman's power
Could last but for an idle hour.
280
The weak were objects of his scorn,
The wise, his fear and dread;
He heaped with shame, from mere caprice,
The unoffending head.
And they who dared to brave his wrath
Were swept unpitied from his path.
The wise, his fear and dread;
He heaped with shame, from mere caprice,
The unoffending head.
And they who dared to brave his wrath
Were swept unpitied from his path.
Though hopes, or even hearts must break,
He ruled unthwarted still,
Friends, sisters, even his wife at last,
He sacrificed at will;
Was retribution for the past
That none were near him at the last?
He ruled unthwarted still,
Friends, sisters, even his wife at last,
He sacrificed at will;
Was retribution for the past
That none were near him at the last?
O woe! to thee, fair lady, woe,
That such fidelity
As thine was poured on one who gave
So little back to thee;
Woe, that thou shouldst have bowed thy head
For shame, thou hadst not merited.
That such fidelity
As thine was poured on one who gave
So little back to thee;
Woe, that thou shouldst have bowed thy head
For shame, thou hadst not merited.
And woe, for him who faltered not
For woman's suffering;
Must there not come to him at last
A fearful reckoning?
When all who suffered for his sake
Are heard, what answer can he make?
For woman's suffering;
Must there not come to him at last
A fearful reckoning?
When all who suffered for his sake
Are heard, what answer can he make?
286
M'LLE GEORGES.
Pleasant hopes at life's bright sunrise,
Courage for its noonday toil,
And calm quiet at its sunset,
Hushing all the long turmoil.
Courage for its noonday toil,
And calm quiet at its sunset,
Hushing all the long turmoil.
These the blessings which our Father
Sends us in our earthly home—
Making kind and good provision
For all seasons as they come—
Sends us in our earthly home—
Making kind and good provision
For all seasons as they come—
Giving strength for the performance
Of each duty which life brings—
Giving faith, whereby securely
We take hold on heavenly things,
Of each duty which life brings—
Giving faith, whereby securely
We take hold on heavenly things,
And each day that we are marking,
By good thought, or better deed,
Makes its own best preparation
For the day that shall succeed.
By good thought, or better deed,
Makes its own best preparation
For the day that shall succeed.
287
Nothing that is good can perish,
Hope, or virtue, love, or truth;
If we rightly live the present,
We shall not regret our youth.
Hope, or virtue, love, or truth;
If we rightly live the present,
We shall not regret our youth.
For if we are only adding
Truest wisdom to our store,
Every day we live is better
Than the day that went before.
Truest wisdom to our store,
Every day we live is better
Than the day that went before.
Child of genius, wit, and beauty,
Bright thy day at morning rose;
Hast thou gained no hope or memory
That can beautify its close?
Bright thy day at morning rose;
Hast thou gained no hope or memory
That can beautify its close?
Ah! life's vanities and follies
Made thy pleasures in the past—
And vain effort to recall them
Is thy solace at the last.
Made thy pleasures in the past—
And vain effort to recall them
Is thy solace at the last.
Better hadst thou spent in duty
Years but wasted for renown,
Then thy white hairs should adorn thee
And their glory be thy crown!
Years but wasted for renown,
Then thy white hairs should adorn thee
And their glory be thy crown!
| The Josephine Gallery | |