 | Gen. Albert Pike's poems |  |
318
THE BRIDAL.
Ring, bells! your glad carillons,
For two fond hearts made one,
The old, old story telling,
In Paradise begun.
For two fond hearts made one,
The old, old story telling,
In Paradise begun.
To holy church now cometh
The soldier with his bride,
Up the aisle gravely pacing,
Unto the altar side.
The soldier with his bride,
Up the aisle gravely pacing,
Unto the altar side.
Worth against many rivals,
Wins more than golden fruit:
Grace, virtue, genius, beauty,
Reward his patient suit.
Wins more than golden fruit:
Grace, virtue, genius, beauty,
Reward his patient suit.
Queen over hearts long reigning,
She lays her sceptre down,
One heart must now content her,
One love be all her crown.
She lays her sceptre down,
One heart must now content her,
One love be all her crown.
Must we say “Good-bye!” Darling?
Ah! word so hard to say!
Must we, so long adoring,
Give you to him, to-day?
Ah! word so hard to say!
Must we, so long adoring,
Give you to him, to-day?
319
Dear heart of child so loving,
So tender and so true,
Heart that is ever seeking,
Some generous act to do:
So tender and so true,
Heart that is ever seeking,
Some generous act to do:
Dear eyes so bright in gladness,
To loved ones' faults so blind,
So eloquent in sadness,
When fortune was unkind.
To loved ones' faults so blind,
So eloquent in sadness,
When fortune was unkind.
Hands that were never weary
Of toil for other's sake;
Tongue that with sweet tones pleading,
Bitter words never spake:
Of toil for other's sake;
Tongue that with sweet tones pleading,
Bitter words never spake:
We part with her in sorrow,
We give her up with tears,
Losing with her the blessing
Of all the coming years.
We give her up with tears,
Losing with her the blessing
Of all the coming years.
Take, then, this gift most precious,
Be to her kind and true!
And as you guard and keep her,
May God be good to you!
Be to her kind and true!
And as you guard and keep her,
May God be good to you!
May 28, 1878.
| Gen. Albert Pike's poems | |