Part 129 (1/2)
What have I done--to follow you?
I leave a father torn with fears; I leave a mother bathed in tears; A brother, girding on his sword, Against my life, against my lord.
8 Now, without father, mother, friend, On thee my future days depend; Wilt thou, for ever true to love, A father, mother, brother, prove?
O Henry!----to thy arms I fall, My friend! my husband! and my all!
Alas! what hazards may I run?
Shouldst thou forsake me--I'm undone.
9 _Hen_. My Harriet, dissipate thy fears, And let a husband wipe thy tears; For ever joined our fates combine, And I am yours, and you are mine.
The fires the firmament that rend, On this devoted head descend, If e'er in thought from thee I rove, Or love thee less than now I love!
10 Although our fathers have been foes, From hatred stronger love arose; From adverse briars that threatening stood, And threw a horror o'er the wood, Two lovely roses met on high, Transplanted to a better sky; And, grafted in one stock, they grow.
In union spring, in beauty blow.
11 _Har_. My heart believes my love; but still My boding mind presages ill: For luckless ever was our love, Dark as the sky that hung above.
While we embraced, we shook with fears, And with our kisses mingled tears; We met with murmurs and with sighs, And parted still with watery eyes.
12 An unforeseen and fatal hand Crossed all the measures love had planned; Intrusion marred the tender hour, A demon started in the bower; If, like the past, the future run, And my dark day is but begun, What clouds may hang above my head?
What tears may I have yet to shed?
13 _Hen_. Oh, do not wound that gentle breast, Nor sink, with fancied ills oppressed; For softness, sweetness, all, thou art, And love is virtue in thy heart.
That bosom ne'er shall heave again But to the poet's tender strain; And never more these eyes o'erflow But for a hapless lover's woe.
14 Long on the ocean tempest-tossed, At last we gain the happy coast; And safe recount upon the sh.o.r.e Our sufferings past, and dangers o'er: Past scenes, the woes we wept erewhile, Will make our future minutes smile: When sudden joy from sorrow springs, How the heart thrills through all its strings!
15 _Har_. My father's castle springs to sight; Ye towers that gave me to the light!
O hills! O vales! where I have played; Ye woods, that wrap me in your shade!
O scenes I've often wandered o'er!
O scenes I shall behold no more!
I take a long, last, lingering view: Adieu! my native land, adieu!
16 O father, mother, brother dear!
O names still uttered with a tear!
Upon whose knees I've sat and smiled, Whose griefs my blandishments beguiled; Whom I forsake in sorrows old, Whom I shall never more behold!
Farewell, my friends, a long farewell, Till time shall toll the funeral knell.
17 _Hen_. Thy friends, thy father's house resign; My friends, my house, my all is thine: Awake, arise, my wedded wife, To higher thoughts, and happier life!
For thee the marriage feast is spread, For thee the virgins deck the bed; The star of Venus s.h.i.+nes above, And all thy future life is love.
18 They rise, the dear domestic hours!
The May of love unfolds her flowers; Youth, beauty, pleasure spread the feast, And friends.h.i.+p sits a constant guest; In cheerful peace the morn ascends, In wine and love the evening ends; At distance grandeur sheds a ray, To gild the evening of our day.
19 Connubial love has dearer names, And finer ties, and sweeter claims, Than e'er unwedded hearts can feel, Than wedded hearts can e'er reveal; Pure as the charities above, Rise the sweet sympathies of love; And closer cords than those of life Unite the husband to the wife.
20 Like cherubs new come from the skies, Henries and Harriets round us rise; And playing wanton in the hall, With accent sweet their parents call; To your fair images I run, You clasp the husband in the son; Oh, how the mother's heart will bound!
Oh, how the father's joy be crowned!
WRITTEN IN A VISIT TO THE COUNTRY IN AUTUMN.