Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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A THOUGHT IN SPRING. |
 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
311
A THOUGHT IN SPRING.
The flowers are laughing round us,
And the skies with sunshine stream;
Oh! how bright a chain hath bound us
In one rich and golden dream.
And the skies with sunshine stream;
Oh! how bright a chain hath bound us
In one rich and golden dream.
Often obstinate in sorrow,
We to-day all comfort spurn;
But a beam shines out to-morrow,
From whose smile we cannot turn.
We to-day all comfort spurn;
But a beam shines out to-morrow,
From whose smile we cannot turn.
Oft we shrine a thought, that grieves us,
In our hearts to dwell—yet find
In some happier hour it leaves us—
For hath man a constant mind?
In our hearts to dwell—yet find
In some happier hour it leaves us—
For hath man a constant mind?
312
For myself, I said, full often,
“From Hope's paths will I depart;”
But such scenes as these will soften
E'en the most determined heart!—
“From Hope's paths will I depart;”
But such scenes as these will soften
E'en the most determined heart!—
And the flowers that now bloom round us,
And the skies that shine above—
In light chain alike have bound us,
In one dream of hope and love.
And the skies that shine above—
In light chain alike have bound us,
In one dream of hope and love.
Haply thou too hast in sorrow,
Oh! my gentle, gentle friend,
Challenged bitterly the morrow—
E'en one ray of peace to send.
Oh! my gentle, gentle friend,
Challenged bitterly the morrow—
E'en one ray of peace to send.
And with head dejected, turning
From all hope in that dark hour—
Hast remained in tears and mourning,
Bound by Sorrow's sternest power!
From all hope in that dark hour—
Hast remained in tears and mourning,
Bound by Sorrow's sternest power!
313
And thyself not thus contenting
With the impassioned bursts of woe,
Hast still cherished vain lamenting,
Studying grief's whole truth to know!—
With the impassioned bursts of woe,
Hast still cherished vain lamenting,
Studying grief's whole truth to know!—
And here we are together—
Smiling every care away—
In this gladdening summer weather—
On this gleaming sunny day!
Smiling every care away—
In this gladdening summer weather—
On this gleaming sunny day!
Smiling Memory from us gladly—
And rejoicing as we move—
As we never, never sadly
Wept in broken-hearted love.
And rejoicing as we move—
As we never, never sadly
Wept in broken-hearted love.
And this change, oh! whence is't springing,
What fair treasures, rich and new,
Is our fortune brightly bringing—
To lend all things Joy's own hue!
What fair treasures, rich and new,
Is our fortune brightly bringing—
To lend all things Joy's own hue!
314
What hath wrought this change victorious?
What hath chased all gloom away?
What achieves this triumph glorious?
What hath brought such bliss to-day?
What hath chased all gloom away?
What achieves this triumph glorious?
What hath brought such bliss to-day?
Flowers, sweet flowers, that bloom around us,
Skies, bright skies, whence Sunshine streams—
These have from Grief's yoke unbound us—
These have chased Grief's mournful dreams.
Skies, bright skies, whence Sunshine streams—
These have from Grief's yoke unbound us—
These have chased Grief's mournful dreams.
Funeral dreams and shadowy fancies
Fly the joy of Nature's smile—
And the bounding life-blood dances,
And the heart grows light the while.
Fly the joy of Nature's smile—
And the bounding life-blood dances,
And the heart grows light the while.
Lightest things bring purest pleasures—
Flowers, and birds, and stream, and breeze;
All the world's more splendid treasures
Yield small joys compared with these.
Flowers, and birds, and stream, and breeze;
All the world's more splendid treasures
Yield small joys compared with these.
315
Strewn with lavish hand for ever,
Are the richest blessings round—
Asking thus no strong endeavour,
They are looked for, and are found!
Are the richest blessings round—
Asking thus no strong endeavour,
They are looked for, and are found!
Wheresoe'er we move—they meet us—
Crossing still our onward road—
E'en unlooked for, oft they greet us,
Scattering doubt and gloom abroad!
Crossing still our onward road—
E'en unlooked for, oft they greet us,
Scattering doubt and gloom abroad!
Common things are ever bringing
Joys—with freshening dews that fall—
Everywhere is gladness springing—
Ever—everywhere—for all!
Joys—with freshening dews that fall—
Everywhere is gladness springing—
Ever—everywhere—for all!
Oh! sweet flowers that bloom around us—
Sunny skies that shine above—
Ye from Grief's yoke have unbound us—
Lessoned us in light of love!
Sunny skies that shine above—
Ye from Grief's yoke have unbound us—
Lessoned us in light of love!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |