University of Virginia Library

TO ------, ON HER MARRIAGE.

With snow-white marriage-wreaths I saw thee crowned,
Gentlest and sweetest being! while around
Stood the beloved ones of thy rosy years,
With cloud-o'ershadowed smiles, and rainbow-brightened tears!
Thy lovely glance, bright, feverishly bright,
Seemed shrinking from their looks, and from the light—
Thy rose-leaf lip was tremulously quivering,
Like sunbeams on a rocking billow shivering;
Thy step was like a startled fawn's upspringing,
Remembrances of thy glad childhood bringing
To us, who loved thee in those days departed,
Who still must love thee, true and changless-hearted!
And once again that deep scene seems to rise,
And thou, with thy sweet mien and tearful eyes—
Thou! our own lovely one! and must thou part?
Be it in cloudless trustingness of heart!
Thou wert beloved—thou art beloved—and still
May thy young days be screened from grief and ill!
Be love the incense-perfumed torch, whose light
Shall ever guide thy gentle footsteps right—
Be love the thrice-charmed mantle that shall fold
That graceful form of pure and lofty mould!
Thou weepest—Nature triumphs at thy heart—
Thou weepest, blessed and blessing as thou art!
O! be those tears, like spring-showers gushing fast,
Like spring-showers, brief and brilliant—be the last
Those innocent eyes may ever have to shed!
Lift up, lift up that thoughtful-drooping head;
Thou'rt but by fond familiar faces bound,
By thine own kindred band girt meetly round—
Affectionate hearts beat near thee, and the air
Is thrilled for thee by many a whispered prayer!
But now 'tis past! thy breeze-like tones and faint
Have melted from the ear! the lone dove's plaint
Less tender, sweet, and spiritually soft!
Yet missioned airs to heaven those tones shall waft!
But now 'tis past! those solemn vows are breathed—
'Tis o'er! and, O, the marriage-flower-crowns wreathed
Amidst those gleamy tresses waving bright,
That shining fall with play of changeful light,
Shall lightly sit upon thy lovely brow,
(And, O, less stainless and less pure than thou),
Their tenderest leaves, by young affection's dews,
Nursed in the earliest freshness of their hues!
May those soft tones, lately so faltering-low,
With sudden laughter joyously o'erflow!
O, may thy fawn-like step, the gayest, fleetest,
That ever, when young life and hope are sweetest,
Pressed down spring's greensward-violets, till their scent
Loaded the air with slumbrous languishment—
O, may that fawn-like step, now slow and shrinking
(As thou on solemn themes wert deeply thinking),
Once more be winged by breathless, thoughtless joy,
Too light to droop, too exquisite to cloy—
That deep-flushed lip forget its tremulous quiver,
Undimmed by spray-drops from life's dark-stained river;
But may thy heart in changeless tenour move,
As thrillingly alive to joy and love;
For joy shines midst the trouble of thy mind,
Like some rich jewel 'mongst dim waves enshrined—
Some beauteous star midst curtaining mists enshrouded,
That yet shall beam untroubled and unclouded!
—I saw thee with thy marriage-crown in youth
Stand lovely in thy heart's confiding truth!
And when long years, long years, have circled by,
O, may that eloquent and gentle eye
Shine but with graver, tenderer constancy!
May that unclouded forehead, smooth and fair,
Its marriage-crown of light unwrinkled wear—
That marriage-crown, of deathless roses braided,
Shall, when life's scattered roses all lie faded,
Shine forth more deeply, exquisitely bright,
Only in heaven to win sublimer light!