Part 9 (1/2)

The following lines were written to the air No. 4, in the 5th book of Mendelsohn's ”Lieder ohne Worte.”

Oh, say not, lady, That ought could ever This fond heart sever From love and thee Go, bid the billow Now calm its motion, The restless ocean Rest endlessly!

Should'st thou deceive me,-- All earthly blessing, Not worth possessing,-- Away I'd flee.

And far from home, love-- My lost hopes mourning-- Nor thence returning,-- I'd pray for thee!

And though a stranger To earthly gladness, There is a sadness More glad than mirth,--

The joy of sorrow; The sweetest pleasure, A tear-bought treasure Of heavenly birth!

Though all around me Were darkness veiling, Yet light unfailing In death shall rise!

Though day departeth, Nor cloud nor sorrow Shall dim that morrow In yonder skies!

THE FRIEND.

There is a friend, whose love Is closer than a brother's,-- Tender, endearing,--'tis above E'en fondness like a mother's:-- She may forget her suckling's cry, His ear attends the feeblest sigh.

On Him thy panting breast, By care and anguish riven, Bleeding and torn, hath found its rest, From other refuge driven:-- And earth, with all its joys and fears, Hath ceased to bring or smiles or tears.

Morn's dew-enamell'd flowers, The cloud through azure sweeping, Their brightness owe to sadder hours, Their calm, to storms and weeping.-- That Friend shall thus each tear illume, To forms of glory shape that gloom.

Eve's sapphire cloud hath been Dark as the brow of sorrow; Those dew pearls wreath'd in emerald green, Once wept a coming morrow:-- But glory sprang o'er earth and sky, And all was light and ecstacy.

Yon star upon the brow Of night's grey coronet, Morn's radiant blush, eve's ruddy glow, Had yon bright sun ne'er set, Were hidden still from mortal sight, Lost in impenetrable light.

Then should afflictions come, Dark as the shroud of even, A thousand glories glitter from The burning arch of heaven!

Though earth be wrapt in doubt and gloom, New splendours dawn o'er daylight's tomb.

And who that azure hung With lamps of living fire?

Who, when the hosts of morning sung, First listen'd to their quire?

The Man of Sorrows mercy sent,-- In heav'n the G.o.d!--the Omnipotent!

HE is that friend, whose love Nor life nor death shall sever!

Eternal as yon throne above, Unchanged, endures for ever.

What would'st thou more, frail fabric of the dust; OMNIPOTENCE thy s.h.i.+eld!--thy Refuge!--Trust!

LINES TO A LADY

WHOM THE AUTHOR HAD NEVER SEEN.