Classic Poem

I LEFT the hall, as late it wore,
And glad to be in her boudoir
From surveillance exempt, I
Gazed on the books she last had read,
The chair her form had hallowed,
And grieved that it was empty.

And sleep his web was round me weaving
While listening to that wind-harp's breathing,
Whose melody so wild is,
When one, whose charms are not of earth
(Her father just a plum is worth,
And she his only child is),

With stealthy step before me stood,
As if to kiss in mad-cap mood
My eyes, in slumber folded.
Her form was full — too full, you'd say,
And marvel at the graceful play
Of charms so plumply moulded.

Her eyes were of a liquid blue,
Like sapphires limpid water through
Their soften'd lustre darting;
Her mind-illumined brow was white
As snow-drift in the pale moonlight;
The hair across it parting.

Was of that paly brown, we're told
By poets takes a tinge of gold
When sunbeams through it tremble,
While round her mouth two dimples play'd
Like — nothing e'er on earth was made
Those dimples to resemble.

And there she stood in girlish glee
To win a pair of gloves, or see
How odd I'd look when waking,
When I her round and taper waist
So unexpectedly embraced,
The bond there was no breaking.

Her snowy bosom swell'd as though
The lava there beneath the snow
Would heave it from its moorings;
Her eye seem'd half with anger fired,
And half with tenderness inspired
In lightning-like endurings.

But when I loosed the eager grasp
In which I to my breast did clasp
Her struggling and unwilling,
I felt somehow her fragile fingers
(The tingling in my own yet lingers)
Within my pressure thrilling.

I spoke to her — she answer'd not —
I told her — now I scarce know what —
I only do remember
My feelings when in words express'd,
Though warm as August in my breast,
Seem'd colder than December.

But how can words the thoughts express
Of love so deep, so measureless
As that which I have cherish'd!
O God! if my sear'd heart had given
The same devotedness to Heaven,
It would not thus have perish'd!

I said, " You know — you must have known —
I long have loved — loved you alone,
But cannot know how dearly. "
I told her if my hopes were cross'd,
My every aim in life was lost —
She knew I spoke sincerely!

She answer'd — as I breathless dwelt
Upon her words, and would have knelt —
" Nay, move not thus the least;
You have — you long have had " — " Say on,
Sweet girl! thy heart? " — " Your foot upon
The flounce of my battiste . "