University of Virginia Library

LINES

FROM A MANUSCRIPT POEM.

I know not that I love thee—but I know
That joy thy presence is—thine absence—woe,
That round thee gleams a very Summer-shine
Of dreams and hopes and visions half divine,
That round thee glows a deep unearthly light
Of Phantasy and Inspiration bright;
That where thou art all things are beautiful,
And where thou art not, dim and dark and dull.
That Life seems one rich rapture by thy side—
An ecstacy—till then unknown, untried.
Away from thee a suffering and a Death,
A bitter burthen of unmeaning breath—
Do all feel even as I intensely feel,
Do all at one same shrine in homage kneel,
And watch for every word and look of thine,
And find each look and ev'ry word divine?
Do all, when thee awhile they dwell beside,
On the sweet stream of thy enchantments glide—
Surrender up their Souls to thy bright sway,
And think too short the longest Summer's day,
Wherein to do thee homage deep and true,
And service loyal—thine unquestioned due?
Do all for ever do as I have done,
And in thine eyes seek out their only Sun?
Ah! yes!—and so methinks it is not love,
Since all the same enchanted Feeling prove
Love is not universal! can it be
The zeal with which all learn to worship thee?
I know not that I love—but this I know
One look from thee is worth all else below!
Those deep dark Heavens of Beauty that surprise
The Soul with admiration—those sweet eyes
Colour the Earth to me with light and love,
As sunshine coloureth the Skies above!
Thy voice is music to my Heart's rapt core,
A full and perfect music, and yet more—
It makes all else a music to my Soul,
Blest sounds throughout its listening silence roll—
I know not that I love—but this I know,
All hearts go with you whereso'er you go,
I know where'er you dwell where'er you move,
The Earth becomes a Paradise of love;
That in your radiant presence fair and bright,
There lives the life of life the light of light,
That your dear smile can this lorn World array
With a new beauty of celestial day,
That but to hear the whisper of that name
Fills all my heart and conscious cheek with flame,
And thrills through all my bosom and my brain
With pleasure deepening on to deepest pain.
I know not that I love thee—surely not
More than all others—whose thrice happy lot
It is—or hath been, but to look on thee,
The climax of all Life's felicity.
I know not if I love thee—but I know
That nothing else at least I love below.
There is a World, but 'tis alone for me
Contained—concentred in that one word thee!
'Tis thee I see, I feel, and heed alone,
Others may own to Thousands—I to One!
And Suns and Planets roll unheeded by
Before my fixed and undistracted eye,
The spot whereon thou stand'st my World is all—
Or bounded there, where doth thy shadow fall!