Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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THE FAIR SPOT. |
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
199
THE FAIR SPOT.
It is a sweet and gentle spot,
For thought and feeling made,
A quiet and a dreamy spot—
Half sunshine and half shade.
For thought and feeling made,
A quiet and a dreamy spot—
Half sunshine and half shade.
Here the shadow of proud chestnut trees
Spreads massy, broad, and dark,
And at shut of flowers forth glances fair
The glow-worm's emerald spark.
Spreads massy, broad, and dark,
And at shut of flowers forth glances fair
The glow-worm's emerald spark.
There the violet tufts are clustered thick,
And shed a blue light round—
What time the young and roseate spring—
Flings garlands on the ground.
And shed a blue light round—
What time the young and roseate spring—
Flings garlands on the ground.
200
It is a sweet and lovely spot
For thought and feeling made;
Yet there in thoughtless carelessness
My childish footsteps strayed.
For thought and feeling made;
Yet there in thoughtless carelessness
My childish footsteps strayed.
I felt not its deep influence then—
Nor felt its softening power—
I played therewith a bounding heart,
Through many a smiling hour.
Nor felt its softening power—
I played therewith a bounding heart,
Through many a smiling hour.
What stern dark lessons hath my heart
Since then been deeply taught;
Too mournfully it now is filled
With feeling and with thought!
Since then been deeply taught;
Too mournfully it now is filled
With feeling and with thought!
This fair fair spot now brings at once
Fond fancies to my mind;
Nor here alone sad influences,
My heart is skilled to find.
Fond fancies to my mind;
Nor here alone sad influences,
My heart is skilled to find.
201
E'en in the gladdest, gayest scenes,
Of something 'tis aware,
That breathes of human suffering,
Of human grief and care.
Of something 'tis aware,
That breathes of human suffering,
Of human grief and care.
The Banquet and the Festival
Have shadows round them thrown;
These shadows, Heart, so joyous once,
Alas! they're all thine own.
Have shadows round them thrown;
These shadows, Heart, so joyous once,
Alas! they're all thine own.
The sunniest spots on Nature's face
Are darkened by a veil;
And, Oh! that veil is all of tears,
That tells of Life's dark tale!
Are darkened by a veil;
And, Oh! that veil is all of tears,
That tells of Life's dark tale!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |