 | [Lines to a lady, in] The album |  |
13
LINES TO A LADY.
The leaf floats by upon the stream,
Unheeded in its silent path;
The vision of the shadowy dream
A similar remembrance hath.
Unheeded in its silent path;
The vision of the shadowy dream
A similar remembrance hath.
The cloud that steals across the moon
Scarce brightens ere its hues are gone;
The mist that shrouds the lake—as soon
Must vanish, when the night hath flown.
Scarce brightens ere its hues are gone;
The mist that shrouds the lake—as soon
Must vanish, when the night hath flown.
The dove hath cleft the pure blue sky,
No traces of his wing are there;
The light hath dwelt in beauty's eye;
It was but now—and now is—where?
No traces of his wing are there;
The light hath dwelt in beauty's eye;
It was but now—and now is—where?
14
The winds of night have passed the flower—
Hath morning found its gay leaf dim?
The bird hath sung by lady's bower,
To-morrow—will she think of him?
Hath morning found its gay leaf dim?
The bird hath sung by lady's bower,
To-morrow—will she think of him?
Thus, lady, have I crossed thy path,
Like bird, or mist, or leaf, or cloud—
My name a like remembrance hath;
Deep shall its sleep be—in my shroud.
Like bird, or mist, or leaf, or cloud—
My name a like remembrance hath;
Deep shall its sleep be—in my shroud.
But still, the cloud may not forget
The moon's serene, but fleeting light—
The bird, the leaf, remember yet,
All that hath made their pathway bright.
The moon's serene, but fleeting light—
The bird, the leaf, remember yet,
All that hath made their pathway bright.
And I—though cold neglect be mine,
My name to deep oblivion given,
Will, while on earth, remember thine,
And breathe it to my lyre in Heaven.
My name to deep oblivion given,
Will, while on earth, remember thine,
And breathe it to my lyre in Heaven.
| [Lines to a lady, in] The album | |