 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
GLORIANA.
Thou hast won me, fondly following, very far,
Gloriana!
Thou hast led me, as the shepherd by his star,
Gloriana!
Thou hast been, of all the blesséd host, the only star for me!
And I've follow'd, with fond worship, through the desert and the sea;
Through the danger and the strife,
As if seeking for the life—the breath of life—
The beauty, and the blessing, and the rapture—all in thee,
Gloriana!
Gloriana!
Thou hast led me, as the shepherd by his star,
Gloriana!
Thou hast been, of all the blesséd host, the only star for me!
And I've follow'd, with fond worship, through the desert and the sea;
Through the danger and the strife,
As if seeking for the life—the breath of life—
The beauty, and the blessing, and the rapture—all in thee,
Gloriana!
And thy smiles, for many seasons, cheer'd my way,
Gloriana!
Till I fancied I had reach'd the perfect day,
Gloriana!
That with eye forever gazing on the grandeur of the sun,
The sovereign heights of power that had wooed me all were won,
And thou—the glorious prize,
The blesséd star-ideal of mine eyes—
With hands that bore the laurel, to thy bosom waved me on,
Gloriana!
Gloriana!
Till I fancied I had reach'd the perfect day,
Gloriana!
That with eye forever gazing on the grandeur of the sun,
The sovereign heights of power that had wooed me all were won,
And thou—the glorious prize,
The blesséd star-ideal of mine eyes—
With hands that bore the laurel, to thy bosom waved me on,
Gloriana!
199
Oh! with promise to my heart of such a spoil,
Gloriana!
How little did I think of the peril and the toil,
Gloriana!
How my young heart bounded onward to each trial with a cheer!
How I braved the storm of battle, till it back recoil'd in fear!
How, forgetting all beside,
I wooed the lovely danger as a bride—
For she smiled with all thy smiling, and I felt that thou wast near,
Gloriana!
Gloriana!
How little did I think of the peril and the toil,
Gloriana!
How my young heart bounded onward to each trial with a cheer!
How I braved the storm of battle, till it back recoil'd in fear!
How, forgetting all beside,
I wooed the lovely danger as a bride—
For she smiled with all thy smiling, and I felt that thou wast near,
Gloriana!
And I scorn'd the common joys of the humbler things of earth,
Gloriana!
All the human hopes and homes seem'd to me of little worth,
Gloriana!
What were common mortal beauties to the eye that look'd on thee?
What the treasures of the cottage—what the fruitage of the tree—
What the charms of mortal face—
What the pleasure and the pride of mortal race,
To him who sought thy beauty, shining far o'er mount and sea,
Gloriana?
Gloriana!
All the human hopes and homes seem'd to me of little worth,
Gloriana!
What were common mortal beauties to the eye that look'd on thee?
What the treasures of the cottage—what the fruitage of the tree—
What the charms of mortal face—
What the pleasure and the pride of mortal race,
To him who sought thy beauty, shining far o'er mount and sea,
Gloriana?
And in this proudest worship my fond spirit went alone,
Gloriana!
'Twas enough that thou wast wooing—that thine eye upon me shone,
Gloriana!
That I rose from height to height, that I rush'd from star to star,
But with eye set ever 'yond them, to the sovereign height afar,
Where thou wast throned in state—
The beauty of my passion, and my fate!
Not a cloud upon thy loveliness, the perfect charm to mar,
Gloriana
Gloriana!
'Twas enough that thou wast wooing—that thine eye upon me shone,
Gloriana!
That I rose from height to height, that I rush'd from star to star,
But with eye set ever 'yond them, to the sovereign height afar,
Where thou wast throned in state—
The beauty of my passion, and my fate!
Not a cloud upon thy loveliness, the perfect charm to mar,
Gloriana
200
Alas! even while I watch, while I gaze upon thy face,
Gloriana!
I faint—I sink—I sicken—I am dying in the race,
Gloriana!
Ah! sudden I remember the long seasons that have flown—
Toiling, striving, watching fondly the one star that for me shone!
Never once I held the fear
That another should keep pace with me so near!
Alas! the bearded Saturn that now mocks above my moan,
Gloriana!
Gloriana!
I faint—I sink—I sicken—I am dying in the race,
Gloriana!
Ah! sudden I remember the long seasons that have flown—
Toiling, striving, watching fondly the one star that for me shone!
Never once I held the fear
That another should keep pace with me so near!
Alas! the bearded Saturn that now mocks above my moan,
Gloriana!
He recks not of thy beauty—he but mocks my fond pursuit,
Gloriana!
His eye he loads with terrors, but his ashen lips are mute,
Gloriana!
Step by step, beside me, hath he ever gone before,
But I knew not of his presence—he will follow me no more!
He breathes with icy breath,
And his very look goes through me like a death!
He would strike at life and hope alike, and blast them in the fruit,
Gloriana!
Gloriana!
His eye he loads with terrors, but his ashen lips are mute,
Gloriana!
Step by step, beside me, hath he ever gone before,
But I knew not of his presence—he will follow me no more!
He breathes with icy breath,
And his very look goes through me like a death!
He would strike at life and hope alike, and blast them in the fruit,
Gloriana!
Thou dim'st before my vision, and the mist grows o'er thy face,
Gloriana!
Ah! me—have I then worshipp'd but a thing of mortal race,
Gloriana!
Have I won no human friend, not a loving woman nigh,
My burning lips to moisten—my soul sweeten with a sigh?
The simplest cottage maid,
The home obscure, but safe, in the humblest forest shade,
Were now above thy beauties, far more precious to mine eye,
Gloriana!
Gloriana!
Ah! me—have I then worshipp'd but a thing of mortal race,
Gloriana!
Have I won no human friend, not a loving woman nigh,
My burning lips to moisten—my soul sweeten with a sigh?
The simplest cottage maid,
The home obscure, but safe, in the humblest forest shade,
Were now above thy beauties, far more precious to mine eye,
Gloriana!
201
But I have not idly striven, in pursuit as fond as vain,
Gloriana!
My faith hath never failed me, nor in danger nor in pain,
Gloriana!
Thou hast fail'd me—not my faith; nor the purpose fix'd, which knew
But the one bright star for homage; and my heart was ever true!
I was erring in mine aim,
But the faithful, fond pursuit of the glory still is Fame—
And thou wilt shine above his grave thou didst to ruin woo,
Gloriana!
Gloriana!
My faith hath never failed me, nor in danger nor in pain,
Gloriana!
Thou hast fail'd me—not my faith; nor the purpose fix'd, which knew
But the one bright star for homage; and my heart was ever true!
I was erring in mine aim,
But the faithful, fond pursuit of the glory still is Fame—
And thou wilt shine above his grave thou didst to ruin woo,
Gloriana!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |