Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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ON THE BROAD BLAZONED ROLLS. |
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
ON THE BROAD BLAZONED ROLLS.
On the broad blazoned rolls of Fame,
'Twere joy, proud joy, to stamp my name;
But, Ah! 'tis stamped not on thy heart,
Then thus I pine for humbler part!
'Twere joy, proud joy, to stamp my name;
But, Ah! 'tis stamped not on thy heart,
Then thus I pine for humbler part!
214
Oh! Ladye! if no echo there
May my glad triumph's pride declare,
Away with glory and renown,
Let me and Sorrow die unknown!
May my glad triumph's pride declare,
Away with glory and renown,
Let me and Sorrow die unknown!
Let not the trumpet-tongue of Fame
My vain atchievements then proclaim;
Unknown, unmarked would I depart,
If banished from thy gentle heart!
My vain atchievements then proclaim;
Unknown, unmarked would I depart,
If banished from thy gentle heart!
If no niche, in that temple fair
May be my portion and my share,
The only refuge-place I crave
Is, Ladye, in the lonely grave!
May be my portion and my share,
The only refuge-place I crave
Is, Ladye, in the lonely grave!
Then haply when thou hear'st my fate,
Repenting, but, Alas! too late,
Thou'lt, softened, give one gentle sigh
To glorify my memory!
Repenting, but, Alas! too late,
Thou'lt, softened, give one gentle sigh
To glorify my memory!
215
And that most costly sigh were worth
All other triumphs of the Earth;
All treasures and all triumphs here,
But 'twill not waken Death's dull ear!
All other triumphs of the Earth;
All treasures and all triumphs here,
But 'twill not waken Death's dull ear!
Then in thy thoughts thou'lt celebrate
That One who loved thee long and late—
Blot from the blazoned rolls my name,
Thy memory far outstrips all Fame!
That One who loved thee long and late—
Blot from the blazoned rolls my name,
Thy memory far outstrips all Fame!
But that exceeding glory, yet,
When my veiled star of Life is set,
Shall never pierce the pall of gloom
That wraps the tenant of the tomb!
When my veiled star of Life is set,
Shall never pierce the pall of gloom
That wraps the tenant of the tomb!
Then, Ladye, while I live accord
A look, a sigh, a smile, a word—
Trophies, that make Pride's pageants seem
The shadows of a dubious dream.
A look, a sigh, a smile, a word—
Trophies, that make Pride's pageants seem
The shadows of a dubious dream.
216
And if on blazoned rolls of Fame,
Success may stamp my honoured name—
Shrined in thy pure heart's temple fair,
Grant me a niche more glorious there!
Success may stamp my honoured name—
Shrined in thy pure heart's temple fair,
Grant me a niche more glorious there!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |