Effusions of Love from Chatelar to Mary, Queen of Scotland Translated from a Gallic Manuscript, in the Scotch College at Paris. Interspersed with songs, sonnets, and notes explanatory, by the translator [i.e. S. W. H. Ireland]. To which is added, historical fragments, poetry, and remains of the amours, of that unfortunate Princess |
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[I crave no mercy for my forfeit life] |
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 | Effusions of Love from Chatelar to Mary, Queen of Scotland |  |
139
[I crave no mercy for my forfeit life]
I crave no mercy for my forfeit life,
I claim no sigh, I ask no pitying tear;
Existence would be love, and love is strife,
So joy shall be th' attendant on my bier.
I claim no sigh, I ask no pitying tear;
Existence would be love, and love is strife,
So joy shall be th' attendant on my bier.
My fancy pictur'd love as bliss supreme,
And youthful passion soon enslav'd my heart:
I found warm fancy but a fleeting dream,
And fervent passion but a rankling dart.
And youthful passion soon enslav'd my heart:
I found warm fancy but a fleeting dream,
And fervent passion but a rankling dart.
I courted hope, she conjur'd visions bright,
My mind equality in nature drew;
Hope proved the antic to my dazzled sight,
Which argument still forc'd me to pursue.
My mind equality in nature drew;
Hope proved the antic to my dazzled sight,
Which argument still forc'd me to pursue.
140
To feast on Mary's charms was once my care,
Methought I never could have sued for more;
But bless'd with those, presumption made me dare,
And I confess'd the flame which I deplore.
Methought I never could have sued for more;
But bless'd with those, presumption made me dare,
And I confess'd the flame which I deplore.
I flew the sweet destroyer of my rest,
I courted death in many a bloody fray;
When love, by torturing another's breast,
Still urg'd me back that I might own its sway.
I courted death in many a bloody fray;
When love, by torturing another's breast,
Still urg'd me back that I might own its sway.
Again I bask in beauty's radiant sun,
I dare attempt to realize my bliss;
I gaze unseen, I gaze, and am undone,
And sell existence for love's ardent kiss.
I dare attempt to realize my bliss;
I gaze unseen, I gaze, and am undone,
And sell existence for love's ardent kiss.
Aurora soon will tinge with ruddy hue
The eastern expanse, now in darkness dress'd,
And I with her shall bid life's night adieu,
To wake immortal, and for ever bless'd.
The eastern expanse, now in darkness dress'd,
And I with her shall bid life's night adieu,
To wake immortal, and for ever bless'd.
But, ah! may not the form of Mary live
In soul aerial, as in mortal fame?
Will icy death annihilation give,
Or doth love's fury still exist the same?
In soul aerial, as in mortal fame?
Will icy death annihilation give,
Or doth love's fury still exist the same?
To part for ever from the bliss I crave,
Uncertain of the future, gives me dread;
Perhaps, expecting comfort in the grave,
To love the living Mary with the dead.
Uncertain of the future, gives me dread;
Perhaps, expecting comfort in the grave,
To love the living Mary with the dead.
Why puzzle still with doubts my throbbing brain?
Why with perplexity increase the shock?
Had I the will to live, the strife were vain—
To-morrow seals my doom upon the block.
Why with perplexity increase the shock?
Had I the will to live, the strife were vain—
To-morrow seals my doom upon the block.
141
Let love and resignation nerve my soul,
Since neither bolt, or cell, or axe have sway,
My bosom's warm affections to control—
My heart is Mary's—Mary I obey.
Since neither bolt, or cell, or axe have sway,
My bosom's warm affections to control—
My heart is Mary's—Mary I obey.
Come smiling morn, for thou wilt comfort lend,
And poise within me ev'ry jarring sense;
Death is to Chatelar the wish'd-for friend,
For death brings certainty, and kills suspense.
And poise within me ev'ry jarring sense;
Death is to Chatelar the wish'd-for friend,
For death brings certainty, and kills suspense.
| Effusions of Love from Chatelar to Mary, Queen of Scotland | |