Part 6 (2/2)

Thou would'st not heed. Thou would'st not any-when, In bower or grove--or in the holy nook Which s.h.i.+elds thy bed--thou would'st not care to look For thoughts of mine, though faithful in their ken As are the minds of England's fighting men When they inscribe their names in Honour's book.

XVI.

Thou would'st not care to scan my face, and through This face of mine, the soul, for sc.r.a.ps of thought.

Yet 'tis a face that somewhere has been taught To smile in tears. Mine eyes are somewhat blue And quick to flash (if what I hear be true) And dark, at times, as velvet newly wrought.

XVII.

But wilt thou own it? Wilt thou in the scroll Of my sad life, perceive, as in a hive, A thousand happy fancies that contrive To seek thee out? Thy bosom is the goal Of all my thoughts, and quick to thy control They wend their way, elate to be alive.

XVIII.

But there is something I could never bring My soul to compa.s.s. No! could I compel Thy plighted troth, I would not have thee tell A lie to G.o.d. I'll have no wedding-ring With loveless hands around my neck to cling; For this were worse than all the fires of h.e.l.l.

XIX.

I would not take thee from a lover's lips, Or from the rostrum of a roaring crowd, Or from the memory of a husband's shroud, Or from the goblet where a Caesar sips.

I would not touch thee with my finger tips, But I would die to serve thee,--and be proud.

XX.

And could I enter Heaven, and find therein, In all the wide dominions of the air, No trace of thee among the natives there, I would not bide with them--No! not to win A seraph's lyre--but I would sin a sin, And free my soul, and seek thee otherwhere!

[Ill.u.s.tration: Letter VI DESPAIR]

LETTER VI.

DESPAIR.

I.

I am undone. My hopes have beggar'd me, For I have lov'd where loving was denied.

To-day is dark, and Yesterday has died, And when To-morrow comes, erect and free, Like some great king, whose tyrant will he be, And whose defender in the days of pride?

II.

I am not cold, and yet November bands Compress my heart. I know the month is May, And that the sun will warm me if I stay.

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