Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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WORDS. |
 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
WORDS.
Nay! ask me not to speak,
How vague are words—how vain—
I will not, must not seek
To speak my thoughts again!
How vague are words—how vain—
I will not, must not seek
To speak my thoughts again!
224
'Tis grief and pain to feel—
That by some dull yoke bowed,
The more we would reveal,
The more we hide and shroud!
That by some dull yoke bowed,
The more we would reveal,
The more we hide and shroud!
The more we would reveal
Of treasured thoughts' rich hoards,
The more we still conceal—
For these are wronged by words.
Of treasured thoughts' rich hoards,
The more we still conceal—
For these are wronged by words.
Words float like some dull cloud—
Around those starry things,
To mask them, and enshroud,
And chain their dazzling wings.
Around those starry things,
To mask them, and enshroud,
And chain their dazzling wings.
Then ask me not to speak—
Since words are weak and vain!
I dare not, must not seek
To speak my thoughts again!
Since words are weak and vain!
I dare not, must not seek
To speak my thoughts again!
225
I should mislead thee so!—
Thou listenest!—and art led
To dream such words can show
The thoughts they shroud instead!
Thou listenest!—and art led
To dream such words can show
The thoughts they shroud instead!
Thou dream'st thou seest the whole
Of my deep love, and strong,
And thus the unfathomed soul
How bitterly dost wrong!
Of my deep love, and strong,
And thus the unfathomed soul
How bitterly dost wrong!
Ten thousand tongues—sweet friend,
And languages were weak—
Through ages—without end,
That mighty love to speak.
And languages were weak—
Through ages—without end,
That mighty love to speak.
Ten thousand tongues that spoke
Loud as the rolling spheres—
Should fail that truth to unlock—
Through thrice ten thousand years!
Loud as the rolling spheres—
Should fail that truth to unlock—
Through thrice ten thousand years!
226
Then what shall mortal breath,
And mortal language do—
Lie like a weight of Death
On the thoughts and feelings too!
And mortal language do—
Lie like a weight of Death
On the thoughts and feelings too!
Then ask me not to speak—
Since words indeed were vain;
For truth's sweet sake ne'er seek
To break calm Silence' chain!
Since words indeed were vain;
For truth's sweet sake ne'er seek
To break calm Silence' chain!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |