To the Loved One
My heart is happy now, beloved,
Albeit thy form is far away;
A joy that will not be removed
Broods on me like a summer's day.
Whatever evil Fate may do,
It cannot change what has been thine;
It cannot cast those words anew,
The gentle words I think divine.
No touch of time can blight the glance
That blest with early hope my love;
New years are dark with fearful chance,
That moment is with God above:
And never more from me departs
Of that sweet time the influence rare,
When first we looked into our hearts
And told each other what was there.
Yes, I am happy, love; and yet
Long cherished pain will keep a strife;
Something half fear and half regret
Is lingering at the seat of life.
But now in seasons of dismay
What cheering hope from thoughts of thee!
And how will earnest fancy stray
To find its home where thou mayst be!
Sometimes I dream thee leaning o'er
The harp I used to love so well;
Again I tremble and adore
The soul of its delicious swell;
Again the very air is dim
With eddies of harmonious might,
And all my brain and senses swim
In a keen madness of delight.
Sometimes thy pensive form is seen
On the dear seat beside the fire;
There plainest thou with Madeline
Or Isabella's lone desire.
He knows thee not, who does not know
The tender flashing of thine eye
At some melodious tale of woe,
And the sweet smile and sweeter sigh.
How oft in silent moonlight air,
When the wide earth is full of rest,
And all things outward seem more fair
For the inward spirit less opprest,
I look for thee, I think thee near,
Thy tones are thrilling through my soul,
Thy dark eyes close to mine appear,
And I am blest beyond control!
Yet deem not thou my absent state
Is measured all by amorous moan;
Clear-voiced Love hath learned of Fate
New harmonies of deeper tone.
All thoughts that in me live and burn,
The thirst for truth, the sense of power;
Freedom's high hope—to thee they turn;
I bring them as a precious dower!
The beauty which those thoughts adore
Diffused through this perennial frame
Centres in thee; I feel it more
Since thy delivering presence came:
And with a clearer affluence now
That mystic spirit fills my heart,
Wafts me on hope's enthusiast flow,
And heals with prayer the guilty smart.
Oh! best beloved, it were a bliss
As pure as aught the angels feel,
To think in after days of this,
Should time a strength in me reveal
To fill with worthy thoughts and deed
The measure of my high desire;
To thee were due the glorious meed,
Thy smiles had kindled first the fire.
But if the starry courses give
No eminence of light to me,
At least together we may live,
Together loved and loving be;
At least what good my spirit knows
Shall seek in thee a second birth,
And in thy gentle soul's repose
I'll wean me from the things of earth.
Even now begins that holy life,
For when I kneel in Christian prayer
Thy name my own, my promised wife,
Is blent with mine in fondest care.
Oh pray for me that both may know
That inward bridal's high delight,
And both beyond the grave may go
Together in the Father's sight.
Albeit thy form is far away;
A joy that will not be removed
Broods on me like a summer's day.
Whatever evil Fate may do,
It cannot change what has been thine;
It cannot cast those words anew,
The gentle words I think divine.
No touch of time can blight the glance
That blest with early hope my love;
New years are dark with fearful chance,
That moment is with God above:
And never more from me departs
Of that sweet time the influence rare,
When first we looked into our hearts
And told each other what was there.
Yes, I am happy, love; and yet
Long cherished pain will keep a strife;
Something half fear and half regret
Is lingering at the seat of life.
But now in seasons of dismay
What cheering hope from thoughts of thee!
And how will earnest fancy stray
To find its home where thou mayst be!
Sometimes I dream thee leaning o'er
The harp I used to love so well;
Again I tremble and adore
The soul of its delicious swell;
Again the very air is dim
With eddies of harmonious might,
And all my brain and senses swim
In a keen madness of delight.
Sometimes thy pensive form is seen
On the dear seat beside the fire;
There plainest thou with Madeline
Or Isabella's lone desire.
He knows thee not, who does not know
The tender flashing of thine eye
At some melodious tale of woe,
And the sweet smile and sweeter sigh.
How oft in silent moonlight air,
When the wide earth is full of rest,
And all things outward seem more fair
For the inward spirit less opprest,
I look for thee, I think thee near,
Thy tones are thrilling through my soul,
Thy dark eyes close to mine appear,
And I am blest beyond control!
Yet deem not thou my absent state
Is measured all by amorous moan;
Clear-voiced Love hath learned of Fate
New harmonies of deeper tone.
All thoughts that in me live and burn,
The thirst for truth, the sense of power;
Freedom's high hope—to thee they turn;
I bring them as a precious dower!
The beauty which those thoughts adore
Diffused through this perennial frame
Centres in thee; I feel it more
Since thy delivering presence came:
And with a clearer affluence now
That mystic spirit fills my heart,
Wafts me on hope's enthusiast flow,
And heals with prayer the guilty smart.
Oh! best beloved, it were a bliss
As pure as aught the angels feel,
To think in after days of this,
Should time a strength in me reveal
To fill with worthy thoughts and deed
The measure of my high desire;
To thee were due the glorious meed,
Thy smiles had kindled first the fire.
But if the starry courses give
No eminence of light to me,
At least together we may live,
Together loved and loving be;
At least what good my spirit knows
Shall seek in thee a second birth,
And in thy gentle soul's repose
I'll wean me from the things of earth.
Even now begins that holy life,
For when I kneel in Christian prayer
Thy name my own, my promised wife,
Is blent with mine in fondest care.
Oh pray for me that both may know
That inward bridal's high delight,
And both beyond the grave may go
Together in the Father's sight.
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