Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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THE MARRIAGE PEAL AND PASSING BELL. |
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
THE MARRIAGE PEAL AND PASSING BELL.
'Twas yestermorn a marriage bell rang loud,And spoke of joy unto the listening crowd;
And now a solemn passing bell I hear
Startling the air,—the neighbouring smile and tear
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(The one stretched stark, the other breathing breath
Of joy, and hope, and promise evermore,
As though none e'er will die, e'er died before)
Jostle each other in these crowded streets—
Young Bride! for whom life hath but flowers and sweets,
When yestermorn, with blushing cheek and brow,
Thou stood'st at the altar breathing Love's deep vow,
How deemedst thou that Love could never die—
That Earth was Paradise—Eternity—
That bell saith other things—brings other news,
And withers up Hope's fairest freshest hues.
It tells the universal tale of man,
How short his journey, and how small his span,
He breathes his troubled hour of hurried breath,
To augment thy Trophy pile of ashes—Death!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |