 | The Josephine Gallery |  |
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.
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