Part 53 (1/2)
In earth's broad temple where we stand, Fanned by the eastern gales that brought us, We hold the missal in our hand, Bright with the lines our Mother taught us.
Where'er its blazoned page betrays The glistening links of gilded fetters, Behold, the half-turned leaf displays Her rubric stained in crimson letters!
Enough! To speed a parting friend 'T is vain alike to speak and listen;-- Yet stay,--these feeble accents blend With rays of light from eyes that glisten.
Good by! once more,--and kindly tell In words of peace the young world's story,-- And say, besides, we love too well Our mothers' soil, our fathers' glory.
THE LAST BLOSSOM
THOUGH young no more, we still would dream Of beauty's dear deluding wiles; The leagues of life to graybeards seem Shorter than boyhood's lingering miles.
Who knows a woman's wild caprice?
'It played with Goethe's silvered hair, And many a Holy Father's ”niece”
Has softly smoothed the papal chair.
When sixty bids us sigh in vain To melt the heart of sweet sixteen, We think upon those ladies twain Who loved so well the tough old Dean.
We see the Patriarch's wintry face, The maid of Egypt's dusky glow, And dream that Youth and Age embrace, As April violets fill with snow.
Tranced in her lord's Olympian smile His lotus-loving Memphian lies,-- The musky daughter of the Nile, With plaited hair and almond eyes.
Might we but share one wild caress Ere life's autumnal blossoms fall, And Earth's brown, clinging lips impress The long cold kiss that waits us all!
My bosom heaves, remembering yet The morning of that blissful day, When Rose, the flower of spring, I met, And gave my raptured soul away.
Flung from her eyes of purest blue, A la.s.so, with its leaping chain, Light as a loop of larkspurs, flew O'er sense and spirit, heart and brain.
Thou com'st to cheer my waning age, Sweet vision, waited for so long!
Dove that would seek the poet's cage Lured by the magic breath of song!
She blushes! Ah, reluctant maid, Love's drapeau rouge the truth has told!
O' er girlhood's yielding barricade Floats the great Leveller's crimson fold!
Come to my arms!--love heeds not years; No frost the bud of pa.s.sion knows.
Ha! what is this my frenzy hears?
A voice behind me uttered,--Rose!
Sweet was her smile,--but not for me; Alas! when woman looks too kind, Just turn your foolish head and see,-- Some youth is walking close behind!
CONTENTMENT
”Man wants but little here below”