He was a tree that stood alone, And proudly did its branches wave; And the root of this delightful tree Was in her husband's grave!
Long, long in darkness did she sit, And her first words were, "Let there be In Bolton, on the field of Wharf, A stately priory!"
The stately priory was reared ; And Wharf, as he moved along, To matins joined a mournful voice, Nor failed at even-song.
And the lady prayed in heaviness That looked not for relief!
But slowly did her succour come, And a patience to her grief.
Oh! there is never sorrow of heart That shall lack a timely end, If but to God we turn, and ask Of Him to be our Friend!
EVEN as a dragon's eye that feels the stress Of a bedimming sleep, or as a lamp Sullenly glaring through sepulchral damp, So burns yon Taper 'mid a black recess Of mountains, silent, dreary, motionless: (43) The lake below reflects it not; the sky Muffled in clouds, affords no company To mitigate and cheer its loneliness.
Yet, round the body of that joyless Thing Which sends so far its melancholy light, Perhaps are seated in domestic ring A gay society with faces bright, Conversing, reading, laughing ;-or they sing, While hearts and voices in the song unite.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHILD three
LOVING she is, and tractable, though wild; (44)
And Innocence hath privilege in her
To dignify arch looks, and laughing eyes,
And feats of cunning, and the pretty round
Of trespasses, affected to provoke
Mock-chastisement and partnership in play.
And, as a faggot sparkles on the hearth,
Not less if unattended and alone
Than when both young and old sit gathered round
And take delight in its activity;
Even so this happy Creature of herself
Is all-sufficient; solitude to her
Is blithe society, who fills the air
With gladness and involuntary songs. Light are her sallies as the tripping fawn's Forth-startled from the fern where she lay couched; Unthought-of, unexpected, as the stir Of the soft breeze ruffling the meadow-flowers, Or from before it chasing wantonly The many-coloured images imprest Upon the bosom of a placid lake.
"WITH sacrifice before the rising morn
Vows have I made by fruitless hope inspired; And from the infernal Gods, 'mid shades forlorn Of night, my slaughtered Lord have I required : Celestial pity I again implore ;-
Restore him to my sight-great Jove, restore !"
So speaking, and by fervent love endowed With faith, the Suppliant heavenward lifts her hands; While, like the sun emerging from a cloud, Her countenance brightens and her eye expands; Her bosom heaves and spreads, her stature grows; And she expects the issue in repose.
O terror! what hath she perceived ?-O joy! What doth she look on?-whom doth she behold? Her Hero slain upon the beach of Troy? His vital presence? his corporeal mould? It is if sense deceive her not-'tis He! And a God leads him, winged Mercury!
Mild Hermes spake and touched her with his wand That calms all fear; "Such grace hath crowned thy prayer, Laodamia! that at Jove's command
Thy Husband walks the paths of upper air : He comes to tarry with thee three hours' space; Accept the gift, behold him face to face!"
Forth sprang the impassioned Queen her Lord to clasp; Again that consummation she essayed; But unsubstantial Form eludes her grasp As often as that eager grasp was made. The Phantom parts-but parts to reunite, And re-assume his place before her sight.
"Protesilaus, lo! thy guide is gone!
Confirm, I pray, the vision with thy voice : This is our palace,-yonder is thy throne; Speak, and the floor thou tread'st on will rejoice. Not to appal me have the gods bestowed This precious boon; and blest a sad abode."
"Great Jove, Laodamia! doth not leave His gifts imperfect :-Spectre though I be, I am not sent to scare thee or deceive; But in reward of thy fidelity. And something also did my worth obtain; For fearless virtue bringeth boundless gain.
Thou knowest, the Delphic oracle foretold That the first Greek who touched the Trojan strand Should die; but me the threat could not withhold : A generous cause a victim did demand; And forth I leapt upon the sandy plain; A self-devoted chief-by Hector slain."
"Supreme of Heroes-bravest, noblest, best! Thy matchless courage I bewail no more, Which then, when tens of thousands were deprest By doubt, propelled thee to the fatal shore ; Thou found'st-and I forgive thee-here thou art- A nobler counsellor than my poor heart.
But thou, though capable of sternest deed, Wert kind as resolute, and good as brave; And he, whose power restores thee, hath decreed Thou should'st elude the malice of the grave : Redundant are thy locks, thy lips as fair As when their breath enriched Thessalian air.
No Spectre greets me,-no vain shadow this ; Come, blooming Hero, place thee by my side!
Give, on this well known couch, one nuptial kiss To me, this day, a second time thy bride!" Jove frowned in heaven: the conscious Parcæ threw Upon those roseate lips a Stygian hue.
"This visage tells thee that my doom is past :
Nor should the change be mourned, even if the joys Of sense were able to return as fast
And surely as they vanish. Earth destroys Those raptures duly-Erebus disdains : Calm pleasures there abide-majestic pains.
Be taught, O faithful Consort, to control Rebellious passion: for the Gods approve The depth, and not the tumult, of the soul; A fervent, not ungovernable, love. Thy transports moderate; and meekly mourn When I depart, for brief is my sojourn-"
"Ah, wherefore? - Did not Hercules by force Wrest from the guardian Monster of the tomb Alcestis, a reanimated corse,
Given back to dwell on earth in vernal bloom? Medea's spells dispersed the weight of years, And Æson stood a youth 'mid youthful peers.
The Gods to us are merciful-and they Yet further may relent: for mightier far Than strength of nerve and sinew, or the sway Of magic potent over sun and star,
Is love, though oft to agony distrest,
And though his favourite seat be feeble woman's breast.
But if thou goest, I follow-" "Peace!" he said, - She looked upon him and was calmed and cheered; The ghastly colour from his lips had fled; In his deportment, shape, and mien, appeared Elysian beauty, melancholy grace,
Brought from a pensive though a happy place.
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