'Midst those mighty fathers dead, In soft beauty thou wast led; When before the shrine thy form On thy lip the murmurs low Died with love's unfinish'd vow; When, like scatter'd rose-leaves, fled From thy cheek each tint of red, And the light forsook thine eye, And thy head sank heavily; Was that drooping but th' excess Or did some deep feeling's might, Earthward bear thy life's young flower? Silence, and for ever, hung! Never to thy lip and cheek Rush'd again the crimson streak, Never to thine eye return'd That which there had beam'd and burn'd! With the secret none might know, With thy rapture or thy woe, With thy marriage-robe and wreath, One, one lightning moment there Struck down triumph to despair, Beauty, splendour, hope, and trust, Into darkness-terror-dust! There were sounds of weeping o'er thee, Bride! as forth thy kindred bore thee, Shrouded in thy gleaming veil, Deaf to that wild funeral wail. Yet perchance a chastening thought, In some deeper spirit wrought, G Whispering, while the stern sad knell On the air's bright stillness fell; "From the power of chill and change Souls to sever and estrange; From love's wane-a death in life But to watch-a mortal strife; From the secret fevers known To the burning heart alone, Thou art fled-afar, away— Where these blights no more have sway! Bright one! oh! there well may be Comfort 'midst our tears for thee!" THE ANCESTRAL SONG. A long war disturb'd your mind- 'Tis now full tide 'twixt night and day, WEBSTER-Duchess of Malfy. THERE were faint sounds of weeping;-fear and gloom And midnight vigil in a stately room Of Lusignan's old halls:-rich odours there Than in the heart-leaf of the rose is set, Amidst those queenly treasures: They had been She had gazed fondly, and with faint, cold hands |