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127
THE TWO RINGS.
[_]
One contained hair, which had been set by mistake in a black-bordered ring, with a butterfly enamelled on it—On the other was engraved the Portuguese word Saudade.
So, Dora, 'tis thy chance to wear
Thy living lover's pledge of hair,
Upon a Mourning Ring;
Say could the Genius of Despair
A darker omen bring?
Thy living lover's pledge of hair,
Upon a Mourning Ring;
Say could the Genius of Despair
A darker omen bring?
Well, wear it thus in fortune's spite!
Perhaps the omen read aright
With bland injunction saith,
‘In absence be thy spirit bright,
For he is true till death.’
Perhaps the omen read aright
With bland injunction saith,
‘In absence be thy spirit bright,
For he is true till death.’
And that Greek emblem, wing'd for flight
Through mortal darkness to the light
Which gleams afar, above,
May hint that even thus his soul
From death may rise to thee, its goal,
Its beacon light of love.
Through mortal darkness to the light
Which gleams afar, above,
May hint that even thus his soul
From death may rise to thee, its goal,
Its beacon light of love.
128
But lest thy courage take alarm,
Wear this Ring too, a counter-charm
In fancy's drooping hour;
An amulet to guard from harm
The faith that trusts its power.
Wear this Ring too, a counter-charm
In fancy's drooping hour;
An amulet to guard from harm
The faith that trusts its power.
A simple offering; lady's hand
Was ne'er with golden finger-band
Of less pretension deck'd;
Yet more than wealth of Ophir-land
Thy heart will there detect.
Was ne'er with golden finger-band
Of less pretension deck'd;
Yet more than wealth of Ophir-land
Thy heart will there detect.
Blank as the superfice appears,
Within, the ripen'd gems of years,
Love's diamond quarry, shine;
Truth, feeling, memory, hopes and fears,—
One word is all the mine.
Within, the ripen'd gems of years,
Love's diamond quarry, shine;
Truth, feeling, memory, hopes and fears,—
One word is all the mine.
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