The girl's reading-book ; in prose and poetry :: :: University of Virginia Library

189

How fair upon the admiring sight,
In Learning's sacred fane,
With cheek of bloom, and robe of white,
Glide on you graceful train!

Blest creatures! to whose gentle eye
Earth's gilded gifts are new,
Ye know not that distrustful sigh
Which deems its vows untrue.

There is a bubble on your cup
By buoyant fancy nurst,
How high its sparkling foam leaps up!
Ye do not think 'twill burst:

And be it far from me to fling
On budding joys a blight,
Or darkly spread a raven's wing
To shade a path so bright.

There twines a wreath around your brow,
Blent with the sunny braid;
Love lends its flowers a radiant glow—
Ye do not think 'twill fade:

And yet 'twere safer there to bind
That plant of changeless dye,
Whose root is in the lowly mind,
Whose blossom in the sky.

190

But who o'er Beauty's form can hang,
Nor think how future years
May bring stern Sorrow's speechless pang,
Or Disappointment's tears.

Unceasing toil, unpitied care,
Cold treachery's serpent-moan—
Ills that the tender heart must bear
Unanswering and alone.

But as the frail and fragrant flower,
Crush'd by the sweeping blast,
Doth even in death an essence pour
The sweetest and the last,

So woman's deep, enduring love,
Which nothing can appal,
Her steadfast faith that looks above
For rest, can conquer all.