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Lays of Leisure Hours

By The Lady E. Stuart Wortley
Stuart-Wortley, Emmeline (1806-1855)

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[section]
  
[dedication]
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VOLUME I.
  
THE STIRRING DAYS OF OLD.
  
WEEP NOT FOR ME.
  
HADDON HALL.
  
AND WOULD'ST THOU HAVE IT SO?
  
LINES WRITTEN BY THE SEA-SIDE.
  
THE WARRIOR'S CONFESSION.
  
BE STILL.
  
THE HAUNTS OF SORROW.
  
THE FLIGHT OF TIME.
  
OH! SUN THAT SETS!
  
I AM ALONE.
  
IRRESOLUTION.
  
THE LITTLE BOAT.
  
'TIS VAIN.
  
THOU BETTER KNOW'ST.
  
SPRING.
  
THE RESOURCE.
  
THE EXCUSE.
  
REMEMBRANCES.
  
DEAR ONE, BUT FORGIVE ME NOW.
  
HOPES AND DREAMS.
  
A FEW MORE HOURS.
  
VAIN ASPIRATIONS.
  
BEAUTIFUL DREAMS.
  
AWAY—AWAY.
  
TO THE DEPARTED.
  
SONNET.
  
LOVE'S INCREASE.
  
TO THE SKYLARK.
  
COME TO ME, LITTLE CHILD.
  
I CLAIM NOT CONSTANCY FROM THEE.
  
BLACK HAGGARD,
  
TO THE WIND.
  
A SPRING EVENING.
  
AND COULD'ST THOU HOLD.
  
I AM CONTENTED.
  
AND IS SHE DEAD?
  
STANZAS.
  
THE YOUTH OF THE SOUL.
  
LINES.
  
THE HEART'S GUESTS.
  
ADIEU!
  
TO NAPOLEON IN THE GRAVE.
  
ON DISAPPOINTMENT.
  
STANZAS.
  
OH! IF ONCE MORE.
  
LINES ON SUNRISE.
  
SONG.
  
OH! COULD'ST THOU KNOW.
  
THOU ART NOT HERE.
  
THE ESCAPE.
  
NO TROPHY-PILE.
  
THE APPROACH OF SPRING.
  
TO-MORROW.
  
HOPELESSNESS.
  
YES! I CAN SMILE!
  
TO THE COUNTESS OF JERSEY,
  
ON A LEAF OF MYRTLE.
  
THE LADYE AND THE WARRIOR.
  
LINES
  
AN AUTUMNAL DAY.
  
ADIEU TO ALL!
  
WEEP NOT.
  
THEN AND NOW.
  
THE WARRIOR'S PETITION.
  
LIFE'S PEACEFUL HOURS.
  
STANZAS.
  
THE DREAMER'S GRAVE.
  
RESOLUTION.
  
OH! HOURS OF THE PAST!
  
THE WILLING VICTIMS.
  
NATURE'S GLADNESS.
  
NEVER AGAIN OH! HEART!
  
LIFE'S WORST GRIEF.
  
HAPPINESS.
  
LINES
  
TRUTH AND FANCY.
  
CHILDISH MEMORIES.
  
LINES.
  
THE BELOVED IMAGE.
  
LIFE! AS WE STILL.
  
TO THE STARS.
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VOLUME II.
  
THE COMMENCEMENT OF SPRING.
  
MANUEL TO INEZ.
  
THE DRAGON FLY.
  
STANZAS.
  
ON A FÊTE HELD IN THE OPEN AIR.
  
LINES
  
THE WATERS IMAGE BACK.
  
EXCEPTING THEE!
  
THE CROWDED HALL.
  
ALONE, AND WORSE EV'N THAN ALONE.
  
MOTHER!—SWEET MOTHER!—HASTE.
  
GO! SISTER!
  
ROSE!
  
LINES ON THE SUN.
  
TO ONE DEPARTED.
  
DEFIANCE.
  
BRIGHTEST SPRING.
  
LINES,
  
LOVE ME NOT!
  
EAST, WEST, SOUTH, AND NORTH.
  
EARTH IS PITILESS.
  
MY THOUGHTS! ASCEND.
  
THE ISLE OF BEAUTY.
  
THE FAREWELL TO EARTH.
  
A VISIT TO A COUNTRY HOUSE.
  
CHANGES.
  
TO ---
  
THE ONLY CHARM.
  
I CAN BUT SAY—I LOVE!
  
INDIFFERENCE.
  
SWEET NIGHTINGALE.
  
THE CAPTIVE'S SONG.
  
DEPARTED JOYS.
  
MINE IS A GRIEF.
  
THE FADING IMAGE.
  
AND SHALL I LONGER BEND AND BOW?
  
THE RETURN TO ENGLAND.
  
FIREFLIES AT MILAN.
  
TO PAIN.
  
THE HEART'S HOPE.
  
AUTUMN.
  
THE WORLD'S TRUE VALUE.
  
PROUD GRENADA'S CHIEFTAIN LORDS.
  
OLD NORWAY.
  
TRUE STRENGTH.
  
BRITOMART.
  
TELL ME, SWEET SPRING!
  
THE HUSH OF NIGHT.

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IRRESOLUTION.

Why should I grieve and mourn—
Why weep and wail?
Others have braved and borne—
Heart! shalt thou fail?
48

Wilt thou, heart! still remain
Sorrow's poor slave,
Still hug thy heavy chain—
Dig thine own grave?
Still cry, “Would Heaven it were,
Would it might be!”
Still answer—Ah! Despair!—
“'Tis not for me!”
Wilt thou with questionings fond
Tire Time and Fate?
Yet evermore respond—
“No! 'tis too late!”
Oh! with more strength contest—
Or wiselier yield;
Choose that which seemeth best
Choose spear or shield!
49

But not thus vainly turn
Front to the foe—
First, calm endurance learn,
Then brave the blow!
Oh! but with strength resist—
Or but resign!
Nor thus in doubt exist,
Faint heart of mine!
Choose thine own weapons, choose—
Choose now thy part—
Nor each dear chance refuse,
Weak wavering heart!
Oh! cease to mourn unblessed—
Cease to repine—
Learn to resist—or rest—
Weak heart of mine!
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