I.
Years of anguish and gloom have gone by
Since I last drank the breath of thy sigh;
And—compelled by hard Fortune to sever,—
We parted in sadness—for ever!
II.
What a host of remembrances rush
On my brain,—and my tears how they gush,
When in solitude's hour I dwell
On thy wild but prophetic ‘Farewell!’
III.
Yes, ‘for ever’ thou saidst, though I deemed
Fortune kinder, perchance, than she seemed;
And, chiding thy fears with a kiss,
Bade thee dim not those moments of bliss!
IV.
Even then death's dark web was around thee;
The spells of the spoiler had bound thee;
And the Angel from Heaven that brings
Fate's last fiat—was waving his wings!
V.
We parted—What pen may pourtray
The despair that o'ershadowed that day!
And even deeper our grief had been then,
Had we known we should meet not again!
VI.
We parted—Long years have now past
Since the hour that I gazed on thee last;
But, fresh in my memory, yet
Bloom the flowers of most mournful regret!
VII.
'Tis said, that for sorrow's worst sting
Time a swift-healing balsam can bring;—
That earth's ills all must own his dominion,
And recede when they're touched by his pinion!
VIII.
Could the power of Oblivion controul
All the gloom that oppresses my soul;
Could even Time with his wing interpose,
And freeze feeling's bright fount as it flows;—
IX.
I would scorn the hard chain that must chill
In my bosom affection's fond thrill;
For the boon were ungrateful to me,
If it banished one sweet dream of thee!
X.
But this thought shall afford me relief
In my moments of passion and grief,
That—whate'er be the depth of my woes—
They can never disturb thy repose!
XI.
No:—the venom-dipped arrows of doom
Cannot pierce to thy heart through the tomb;
And, though bitter, 'tis balm to my breast
To know, thou'rt for ever at rest!
XII.
No:—the clouds that burst over me now
Cannot ruffle thy beautiful brow;—
In its sorrows my soul may repine;—
They can wake no wild echoes in thine!
XIII.
Let the storms of adversity lour!
So that thou hast escaped from their power,
They may pour forth their wrath on my head!—
They can break not the sleep of the dead.
XIV.
And the poison of Envy and Malice,
May still further embitter Life's chalice;
But the cup, with a smile, shall be quaffed,
Since thou liv'st not to share in the draught!
Years of anguish and gloom have gone by
Since I last drank the breath of thy sigh;
And—compelled by hard Fortune to sever,—
We parted in sadness—for ever!
II.
What a host of remembrances rush
On my brain,—and my tears how they gush,
When in solitude's hour I dwell
On thy wild but prophetic ‘Farewell!’
III.
Yes, ‘for ever’ thou saidst, though I deemed
Fortune kinder, perchance, than she seemed;
And, chiding thy fears with a kiss,
Bade thee dim not those moments of bliss!
IV.
Even then death's dark web was around thee;
The spells of the spoiler had bound thee;
And the Angel from Heaven that brings
Fate's last fiat—was waving his wings!
V.
We parted—What pen may pourtray
The despair that o'ershadowed that day!
And even deeper our grief had been then,
Had we known we should meet not again!
VI.
We parted—Long years have now past
Since the hour that I gazed on thee last;
But, fresh in my memory, yet
Bloom the flowers of most mournful regret!
VII.
'Tis said, that for sorrow's worst sting
Time a swift-healing balsam can bring;—
That earth's ills all must own his dominion,
And recede when they're touched by his pinion!
VIII.
Could the power of Oblivion controul
All the gloom that oppresses my soul;
Could even Time with his wing interpose,
And freeze feeling's bright fount as it flows;—
IX.
I would scorn the hard chain that must chill
In my bosom affection's fond thrill;
For the boon were ungrateful to me,
If it banished one sweet dream of thee!
X.
But this thought shall afford me relief
In my moments of passion and grief,
That—whate'er be the depth of my woes—
They can never disturb thy repose!
XI.
No:—the venom-dipped arrows of doom
Cannot pierce to thy heart through the tomb;
And, though bitter, 'tis balm to my breast
To know, thou'rt for ever at rest!
XII.
No:—the clouds that burst over me now
Cannot ruffle thy beautiful brow;—
In its sorrows my soul may repine;—
They can wake no wild echoes in thine!
XIII.
Let the storms of adversity lour!
So that thou hast escaped from their power,
They may pour forth their wrath on my head!—
They can break not the sleep of the dead.
XIV.
And the poison of Envy and Malice,
May still further embitter Life's chalice;
But the cup, with a smile, shall be quaffed,
Since thou liv'st not to share in the draught!