 | Songs and ballads |  |
81
PAST THE HOUR.
Sure, I've sought the gate so long,
E'en the hedges know me;
Birds laugh at me in their song,—
Streams reflect and show me!
Not a flower that smiles so sweet,
Seems my grief to soften;
E'en the meadow hates my feet,
I've been there so often!
But if e'er I pass this way—
Meet her on a future day—
May I—hush! yet stay,—yet stay,
Don't I hear her coming?
E'en the hedges know me;
Birds laugh at me in their song,—
Streams reflect and show me!
Not a flower that smiles so sweet,
Seems my grief to soften;
E'en the meadow hates my feet,
I've been there so often!
But if e'er I pass this way—
Meet her on a future day—
May I—hush! yet stay,—yet stay,
Don't I hear her coming?
Coming? No, 't was but the trees,—
Night and storm are coming;
E'en the very wasps and bees,
Mock me with their humming!
Vowed she not, by all that 's just,—
All that 's true, she'd meet me?
And 't is thus she wrongs my trust,—
And 't is thus she'd cheat me!
But if e'er again I'm cast
In such meshes as the past,
May I—'t is her step at last!—
Now, indeed, she's coming!
Night and storm are coming;
E'en the very wasps and bees,
Mock me with their humming!
Vowed she not, by all that 's just,—
All that 's true, she'd meet me?
And 't is thus she wrongs my trust,—
And 't is thus she'd cheat me!
82
In such meshes as the past,
May I—'t is her step at last!—
Now, indeed, she's coming!
Oh! my love! my life's delight!
Treasure of my being!
All my sorrow's put to flight,
Thee, my sweet one, seeing!
Yet, how could'st thou keep me here,
Heart and spirit failing?
How?—but, no! we'll have no tear,—
'T is no time for railing;
For, despite thy wayward freaks
Still my heart in rapture speaks,—
'T would stay waiting twenty weeks,
But to see thee coming!
Treasure of my being!
All my sorrow's put to flight,
Thee, my sweet one, seeing!
Yet, how could'st thou keep me here,
Heart and spirit failing?
How?—but, no! we'll have no tear,—
'T is no time for railing;
For, despite thy wayward freaks
Still my heart in rapture speaks,—
'T would stay waiting twenty weeks,
But to see thee coming!
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