Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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THE GHASTLY GUEST. |
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
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THE GHASTLY GUEST.
Who, who hath not some ghastly guestIn the locked chambers of his breast,
Some cherished sorrow that still keeps
Beside him when he wakes or sleeps—
Some haunting memory that remains
Through all his future joys and pains,
Like some dark turbid current led
Where wild woods wave, or fair fields spread?
Who, who hath not some ghastly guest
In the closed chambers of his breast—
As legends old have fabled oft,
While the red wine-cup's draught was quaff'd,
The loud laugh laughed, the sweet song sung,
The walls with garland-streamers hung,
And lamps were lit, and gay tales told,
And the hours on golden wheels seem'd roll'd.
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The phantom to some haunted sight,
Before some doomed and hapless guest,
For ever barred from peace and rest!
While none but he could feel or mark
The spectre's shadowing presence dark;
Could mark the phantom's threat'ning mien,
By him alone—him only seen!
Still so it is with us—for few
May pass Life's gloomy mazes through—
Without some dim and ghastly guest
Becoming the inmate of their breast!
Whether they smile, or sigh, or weep,
Whether they wake, or wearied sleep—
That guest remaineth by their side,
By no eye but their own descried,
Deep in their secret Soul concealed,
By none perceived—to none revealed.
And when they seek Death's shadowy cave,
Buried with them in one same grave.
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |