 | Poems |  |
1
DEDICATORY LINES TO M---A---M---.
In morning dream, by summer stream,
Before my soul knew care or duty,
On the pure tablet of my heart
I drew the form that I thought beauty.
Before my soul knew care or duty,
On the pure tablet of my heart
I drew the form that I thought beauty.
There did I trace my line of grace,
My every thing I deem'd enchanting,
And many a chill of youth that form
Dispell'd, young Hope's sweet sunshine granting.
My every thing I deem'd enchanting,
And many a chill of youth that form
Dispell'd, young Hope's sweet sunshine granting.
Still, day and night, with fond delight,
I woo'd this shade of fancy's forming,
And long, a pilgrim, rov'd to find
The shrine of charms but half as charming.
I woo'd this shade of fancy's forming,
And long, a pilgrim, rov'd to find
The shrine of charms but half as charming.
2
But vain my cares, unheard my prayers,—
And reason long had deem'd them folly;
For, though I rarest idols found,
They were not those which I thought holy!
And reason long had deem'd them folly;
For, though I rarest idols found,
They were not those which I thought holy!
Though maidens bright shed round their light,
My fancy still their beauty tainted;
I own'd them fair, but ever sigh'd,
“They're not the fair my thoughts have painted.”
My fancy still their beauty tainted;
I own'd them fair, but ever sigh'd,
“They're not the fair my thoughts have painted.”
At length there beam'd a form, I deem'd
The form so long belov'd in seeming;
With every charm as bright and warm,
Yet lovelier than my loveliest dreaming!
The form so long belov'd in seeming;
With every charm as bright and warm,
Yet lovelier than my loveliest dreaming!
There shone the eyes that woke my sighs,
Yet sparkling with a radiance lighter:
There were the cheeks so long I sought,
Yet glowing with a crimson brighter.
Yet sparkling with a radiance lighter:
There were the cheeks so long I sought,
Yet glowing with a crimson brighter.
There rose the bosom's orby swell,
The silken robe's restraint disdaining.
There waved the tress of loveliness,
Reason and prudence both enchaining.
The silken robe's restraint disdaining.
There waved the tress of loveliness,
Reason and prudence both enchaining.
3
That form, which shone, my fancy's own,
Was thine, thou dearest work of heaven!
Then, surely, thou wert born for me,
Or why such prescience of thee given?
Was thine, thou dearest work of heaven!
Then, surely, thou wert born for me,
Or why such prescience of thee given?
And, be the world's rude censures hurl'd,
I shall not, dear, the less admire thee!
For, oh! thou'rt all in all to me,
Thou'rt all that passion can desire thee.
I shall not, dear, the less admire thee!
For, oh! thou'rt all in all to me,
Thou'rt all that passion can desire thee.
There may be fair, more bright and rare,
To me they'll be less rare and bright, dear!
Thou'rt earth's and heaven's best to me!
Thou'rt all that constitutes delight, dear!
To me they'll be less rare and bright, dear!
Thou'rt earth's and heaven's best to me!
Thou'rt all that constitutes delight, dear!
I'll not maintain thy beauty's chain,
Nor praise thy charms before another's;
To me thou'rt all I've ever wish'd!
I care not what thou art to others.
Nor praise thy charms before another's;
To me thou'rt all I've ever wish'd!
I care not what thou art to others.
And every vow I've made ere now,
Each song I've breath'd to fancied beauty,
Find their true owner here in thee,
And pay the tribute, love, of duty.
Each song I've breath'd to fancied beauty,
Find their true owner here in thee,
And pay the tribute, love, of duty.
4
Take then these rhymes of other times,
Long since to thee in fancy offered,
But now, in blest reality,
With double fervour fondly proffered!
Long since to thee in fancy offered,
But now, in blest reality,
With double fervour fondly proffered!
And deem each praise, of these rude lays,
Thine own—by heaven, through me, directed,
Thou concentration of each charm!
And be they by thy smile protected.
Thine own—by heaven, through me, directed,
Thou concentration of each charm!
And be they by thy smile protected.
Ah ever thus each mortal hope declines,
Thus do our dearest, brightest wishes fade!
A brief space since, I penn'd, with joy, these lines,
And now, I but address them to a shade!
Thus do our dearest, brightest wishes fade!
A brief space since, I penn'd, with joy, these lines,
And now, I but address them to a shade!
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