 | [Poems by Payne in] John Howard Payne ... his life and writings |  |
PUZZLE.
[_]
The following jeu d'esprit was written in the honor of a celebrated lady in Virginia by the name of Mayo, whose virtues, beauty, and accomplishments deserve a higher eulogium from an abler pen. The effort was more immediately prompted by a remark that the name of Mayo was no way susceptible of a pun. The poem was intended to be complete as an independent allegory, and, at the same time, appropriate in every reference to its subject.
Fatigu'd and restless, on my bed
I languish'd for the dawn of morrow,
Till slumber sooth'd my aching head,
And lull'd, in fairy dreams, my sorrow.
I languish'd for the dawn of morrow,
Till slumber sooth'd my aching head,
And lull'd, in fairy dreams, my sorrow.
I seem'd in that serene retreat,
Which smiles in spite of stormy weather;
Where flowers and virtues, clustering, meet,
And cheeks and roses blush together:
Which smiles in spite of stormy weather;
Where flowers and virtues, clustering, meet,
And cheeks and roses blush together:
When soon twelve sylph-like forms, I dream'd,
Successive on my vision darted,
And still the latest comer seem'd
Fairer than she who just departed.
Successive on my vision darted,
And still the latest comer seem'd
Fairer than she who just departed.
Yet one there was, whose azure eye
A melting, holy, lustre lighted,
Which censur'd, while it wak'd, the sigh,
And chid the feelings it excited.
A melting, holy, lustre lighted,
Which censur'd, while it wak'd, the sigh,
And chid the feelings it excited.
311
“Mortal!” a mystic speaker said,
“In these the sister months discover:—
Select from these the brightest maid,—
Prove to the brightest maid a lover.”
“In these the sister months discover:—
Select from these the brightest maid,—
Prove to the brightest maid a lover.”
I heard and felt no longer free!
The dream dissolves, the sisters sever,
While raptur'd, I exclaim, “With thee,
Dear May! O, let me dwell forever!”
The dream dissolves, the sisters sever,
While raptur'd, I exclaim, “With thee,
Dear May! O, let me dwell forever!”
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