Glimpses of Antiquity Being a collection of metrical sketches, in the form of ballads, lyrics, &c., with main reference to mediaeval times or classical subjects. By George F. Preston [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
 |
REMORSE. |
|
 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
29
REMORSE.
Thou hauntest me, pale face and tearful eyes,
In stillest night!
Remorse is written on the darkened wall,
In characters of light.
I hear a shriek in silence dead,
That breaks my rest;
A mighty horror drifting o'er my head,
Wrong unconfessed!
The cry is but the note and strain
Of the wild swan southwards wending;
But it comes to me as a cry of pain,
Of some one dying, ending,
Again, and yet again!
In stillest night!
Remorse is written on the darkened wall,
In characters of light.
I hear a shriek in silence dead,
That breaks my rest;
A mighty horror drifting o'er my head,
Wrong unconfessed!
The cry is but the note and strain
Of the wild swan southwards wending;
But it comes to me as a cry of pain,
Of some one dying, ending,
Again, and yet again!
Thou hauntest me, pale face and tearful eyes,—
Thy white frock labours—labours,—
With thy dumb, unuttered sighs!
Thy coronal of flowers is dewed with weeping!
On thy white robe is there no stain?
On thy pale brow is there no pain,
That mars my sleeping?
Thy white frock labours—labours,—
With thy dumb, unuttered sighs!
30
On thy white robe is there no stain?
On thy pale brow is there no pain,
That mars my sleeping?
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |