The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti A variorum edition: Edited, with textual notes and introductions, by R. W. Crump |
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The Dead Bride. |
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 | The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti |  |
The Dead Bride.
There she lay so still and pale,
With her bridal robes around her:
Joy is fleeting—life is frail—
Death had found her.
With her bridal robes around her:
Joy is fleeting—life is frail—
Death had found her.
Gone for ever: gone away
From the love and light of earth;
Gone for ever: who shall say
Where her second birth?
From the love and light of earth;
Gone for ever: who shall say
Where her second birth?
Had her life been good and kind?
Had her heart been meek and pure?
Was she of a lowly mind,
Ready to endure?
Had her heart been meek and pure?
Was she of a lowly mind,
Ready to endure?
Did she still console the sad,
Soothe the widow's anguish wild,
Make the poor and needy glad,
Tend the orphan child?
Soothe the widow's anguish wild,
Make the poor and needy glad,
Tend the orphan child?
102
Who shall say what hope and fear
Crowded in her short life's span?
If the love of God was dear,
Or the love of man?
Crowded in her short life's span?
If the love of God was dear,
Or the love of man?
Happy bride if single-hearted
Her first love to God was given;
If from this world she departed
But to dwell in Heaven;
Her first love to God was given;
If from this world she departed
But to dwell in Heaven;
If her faith on Heaven was fixed,
And her hope; if love's pure worth
Made her rich indeed, unmixed
With the dross of earth.
And her hope; if love's pure worth
Made her rich indeed, unmixed
With the dross of earth.
But alas! if tainted pleasure
Won her heart and held it here,
Where is now her failing treasure,
All her gladness where? . . . . .
Won her heart and held it here,
Where is now her failing treasure,
All her gladness where? . . . . .
Hush, too curious questioner;
Hush and think thine own sins o'er:
Little canst thou learn from her;
For we know no more
Hush and think thine own sins o'er:
Little canst thou learn from her;
For we know no more
Than that there she lies all pale
With her bridal robes around her:
Joy is fleeting—life is frail—
Death hath found her.
With her bridal robes around her:
Joy is fleeting—life is frail—
Death hath found her.
| The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti | |