 | Poetical Trifles |  |
38
ABSENCE.
AN ELEGY.
The gairish sun-beams slowly fade away,
The dew-drop hangs upon the moisten'd rose,
Soft twilight thinly spreads her mantle grey,
And brings to patient poverty repose.
The dew-drop hangs upon the moisten'd rose,
Soft twilight thinly spreads her mantle grey,
And brings to patient poverty repose.
But not on me the night's still shades bestow
Peace or repose; while banish'd from thy sight,
I brood in silence o'er my secret woe,
And count the day's slow hours, and live-long night.
Peace or repose; while banish'd from thy sight,
I brood in silence o'er my secret woe,
And count the day's slow hours, and live-long night.
But thou, for whose dear sake unheard I grieve,
Say, does my Delia deign one thought on me?
That gentle softness sure could ne'er deceive
The faithful heart that throbs alone for thee.—
Say, does my Delia deign one thought on me?
That gentle softness sure could ne'er deceive
The faithful heart that throbs alone for thee.—
39
No, my soul's treasure, thou art good as fair!
Forget, forgive thy lover's frantic fear;
Who doats, adores thee,—yet, with jealous care,
Starts! and beholds some happier rival near.
Forget, forgive thy lover's frantic fear;
Who doats, adores thee,—yet, with jealous care,
Starts! and beholds some happier rival near.
O, dearer far than fortune, fame, or friends,
Dearer than life, than health, than liberty;
Reflect, that on thy will alone depends
All of my future bliss, or misery.
Dearer than life, than health, than liberty;
Reflect, that on thy will alone depends
All of my future bliss, or misery.
Believe these heart-felt sighs, these speaking tears,
Pity the pangs of madd'ning jealousy;
And think, ah think, who never felt these fears,
Has never lov'd—or never lov'd like me.
Pity the pangs of madd'ning jealousy;
And think, ah think, who never felt these fears,
Has never lov'd—or never lov'd like me.
But oh! my Delia, will thy tender care
Dispel each doubt that clouds my anxious mind?
Say, will my Delia's lips again declare,
That she is ever constant, ever kind?
Dispel each doubt that clouds my anxious mind?
Say, will my Delia's lips again declare,
That she is ever constant, ever kind?
Yes, yes, they will:—e'en now, with kind concern,
She chides the slow-pac'd loitering hours away,
And gently blames her lover's slow return,
And looks, and waits, and wonders at his stay.
She chides the slow-pac'd loitering hours away,
And gently blames her lover's slow return,
And looks, and waits, and wonders at his stay.
40
Each air-form'd spectre anxious absence drew,
When fondly musing on thy heavenly charms;
Malicious fancy to my tortur'd view
Gave those sweet beauties to another's arms.—
When fondly musing on thy heavenly charms;
Malicious fancy to my tortur'd view
Gave those sweet beauties to another's arms.—
—One smile from thee shall give them to the wind;—
My raptur'd heart, from storms of passion free,
Again adore thee, lovely, good, and kind,
Nor own another wish, when blest with thee.
My raptur'd heart, from storms of passion free,
Again adore thee, lovely, good, and kind,
Nor own another wish, when blest with thee.
| Poetical Trifles | |