THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

5834

W69s

A

A

OF

THE

_UNIVERSITY

OF

CALIFORNIA

SILENT

LOVE.

A

POEM.

FIRST

AMERICAN

FROM THE

FOURTH

ENGLISH

EDITION.

PHILADELPHIA:

ROBERT

H.

BALL.

LOVE.

"

_O

_man

e'er loved like rae.

When

buta _boy

!p^

Love was

my

solace

and

_my

_{only joy};

It-mystic influence fired

my

tender soul,

And

held

me

_captive in itssoft control!

By

night it ruled in _bright ethereal _dreams,

By

day in _{latent, ever-varying themes,}

—

In

solitude, or'mid thecity's throng,

Or

in the festal hallsof mirth

and

sono;,

—

Through

loss_{or gain, through quietude}or _strife,

This

was

the_{charm, the heart-pulse}of

_my

life.

1* 5

While

_age has not

subdued

the_{flame divine,}

A

_votarystill _{I worship} at the shrine!

When

_{cares enthral,} or

when

the soulis _free,

"Tisall thesame.

No

man

e'erloved like

me

!

jtJTi

!

SHE

was

_young

who

won

my

yielding heart;

Nor

_power

of _poesy, nor the_{painter'sart,}

Could

half the beautiesof her

mind

_portray,

E'en

when

_inspired,

and

how

can this

_my

_lay?

Two

_{eyes thatspoke}

what

_languagene'er can _do, Softas twin-violetsmoist with _early

dew

!

And

on hercheeks the _lily

and

the rose

Blent_beauteously in _{halcyon repose;}

While

vermil _{lips, apart,} reveal'd within

Two

rows of _pearls,

and

on her_{dimpled chin}

The

Graces smiled; a

bosom

heaved below

Her

_{copious ringlets}

_hung

in silken trains

O'eralabasterstreak'd _{with purpling} veins;

—

Her

_{pencill'd eyebrows arching}fair

and

_high

O'er lidsso _{pure theyscarcely} screen'd _{the eye}!

A

form

_symmetral,

_moving

forth in _grace

Like heaven-made

Eve, the

mother

of ourrace

;

And

on her

brow

benevolence

and

truth

^

r

ere chastely throned in _meek,

perennial youth,

While

_{every thought} that

had

creation _there,

But

made

herface still

more

_{divinely fair,}

And

_{every fancy} of her soul _express'd

On

that fair _margin

what

_inspired her breast,

Pure

asthe

sunbeams

_gild the _{placid deep,}

When

_zephyrsclose their wings in listless _sleep.

^fonis

maiden

Avon

my

heart;

O!

is it vain

To

_say,she read the _{language of}

_my

_eyes,

And

knew

_my

_thoughts

_unmingled

with _disguise!

Isit too

much

to_{say that eyes reveal}

What

wordsin vain but_struggle to conceal,

—

That silent

love is notfar

more

sincere

Than

vaunting

vows

—

those harbingersof fear!

Deep-rootedveneration breathes no sound;

—

Back, mortals, back, yestand on holy

ground

!

Hid

in the heart's recess, like preciousore,

It lies in brilliant _beautyatthe core!

Or, as the

_moon,

_{sweet empress of the night}!

Reflecting givesin modest

mellowy

light

The

sun's refracting rays

—

her destined part

—

So

_{genuine feeling} steals

from

heart to heart!

Laugh

not,yesordid sons, ye beingscold,

Whose

marble

bosoms

never once could feel

What

friendship,love,

and sympathy

reveal ;

Learn

but one _truth, 'twill not reduce_{your stores,}

Love

_{higher than your gilded riches soars,}

Your

_demi-god a

meaner

_thing

must

be

Than

_Cupid

_proves.

No

man

e'er loved like

me

!

pJ^hink

nota glance too transient to _destroy

The

calmness of the

mind

_{with mingled}

joy,

—

Judge

for_yourselves,but

make

no

_{stricturas here,}

Set

no

mean

limits to its

_{hope and}

fear.

Many

couldtell, if they but

had

the art,

The

_stirring

_power

with

which

it _{throbs the heart;}

Thrills _{every nerve,}

pursues through every vein

Its _path electric till it fires the brain,

—

And

_trembling therelike needle tothe _pole,

The

_heaving breastin _{respiration free,}

Convulsivefeels with innate

ecstasy.

jtgUT, then, that glance

was

quickly stolen _away,

Love

needsnor _books,nor orator's_display!

Fleet asthe meteor's _{flight across the sky,} Is beauty's bright

and

_{love-revealing eye}

;

But, as it

passes, likethe meteor too,

Can

kindle_thoughts

which

time

_may

ne'er_subdue;

—

Can

raise a

living passion in thesoul,

A

sage's prudence nevercould control

—

Arouse

the

dormant

sensesof the _heart,

And

make

it feel acutein _{every part}

—

Give

softer_language to the_{aqueous eye,}

And

make

itroll in silence on _{the sky,}

Till the

_expanding

_{soul's refining thought.}

So

_{keen, so calm, so tender,}

and

so kind,

That

_earthly caresare scattered to the

wind

!

mp

eachfond look

was

_{fraught with} feverish _pain,

That

but renew'd the deathless _{hope again} !

<

'reating sweetest

charms

and

raptures gay,

That

stolethestillness of

_my

soul

_away

!

Then

came

_{deep nights} of doubt and darknesson,

When

man

is left _{contemplative}alone;

—

When

_{fond philosophy usurps} her _reign, Striving to have_{her sovereign}

_sway

_again.

But

all is

_nought

when

love _pervadesthe _breast,

What

canreduce the _feelings

down

to rest!

The

_{dimpled god}

will still direct each dart,

With

all his archful _meaning, at the _heart,

—

Laughs

when

hesees

_you

strive tothwart his _aim,

Retires,returns with faceof livelyjoy,

And

still _delights in_transports to _annoy.

Riches

and

_{power, ye}

have

_{no golden} art,

Where

shines the _{lighted censer of the heart}!

Fame

and

its_{passions hurriedly decay,}

For

all is _love,

and

love will havehis

_way

!

But,

oh

!

when

fate'sstern mandates

disapprove,

Then

keenest are the _burningdartsof _love,

The

heartthat's _{bound, then}

struggles to be free,

A

_{pensive bird} insweet_captivity.

IgfciCK,sick at heart,o'ercome withdoubt

and

woe,

My

tears

_{would gush}

like urns thatoverflow;

Aloud have

I chastised

_my

cherish'd fear,

And

deem'd

_my

love lack'd

_power

to besincere!

So

does the timid _{fawn, on yonder hill,}

Till _{gazing on} the lordlyface of

_men,

He

starts

and

_springs in terror to his den

;

For

love'sa _{coward, even a very slave,}

While

boldnessoften fires thebasest

_knave;

And

_{sadness, tears,}

and

sickness could but be

Its inward _strength,

_my

soul's

perplexity.

(JLnrsdid I feel

and

murmur

when

alone,

And

said, this world's cold heart is hard asstone;

'Twas

error _this, methinks I hear

_you

_say,

For

thereare hearts

whose

kindness ne'er _decay!

That

I

was

_misanthropic so to _feel,

And

but

_my

_heart,

no

other heart

Mas

steel.

I

know

theworld

—

have_{suffer'd too,} its scorn,

And many

treacherous calumnies have borne;

Borne them

in silence

—

to refute the_same,

Seen the malicious _smile,

_{and envy}

_too, Striveall

_my

dearest actionsto _undo,

And

_{though inspired} to

do

them

_{aught but wrong,}

Have known

them

sneer in malice on

mv

song.

Why

all this

spleen

—

whence

all this vain desire?

To

strew the_{path with} thorns

where

we

_aspire ;

Strivingto teach the world, with

none

avail,

The

_{poet's strain} a

mere

fictitious tale.

Vain

_thought! he_dipshis _pencilin the _light

Of

rainbow _tints, thatsuit his muse's flight;

Explores the hid recesses of the_heart,

And

feels in _{truth the essenceof his art}

!

'Tis dread of _{overreach ing}

them

in thought. Scarceworth _{the having,} 'tisso _dearly

_bought

!

And

this is

_man,

toload with low disdain

Then

frown _{not, world,}

_though

wiser far _ye be,

Ami

coldertoo.

No

man

e'erloved like

me!

I) it on the

peopledstreets,

where

mingled din

Disturbsthe_mind,

whose

_thoughts are turn'd within,

In haste

_emerging

from the

_moving

_throngs,

Where

_every face _portrays its inward

_wrongs

!

We

two

have met, then through

my

troubled heart

The

_{sudden glance has pierced}

me

likeadart;

My

frame

_grown

_paralyzed,

_my

_eyes cast

_down,

As

when

a child receives a father'sfrown.

All!

then, for hours I've struggled in dismay, Unfit tofollow

on

her hallow'd _way,

To

watch

her _{steps, perchance}to hear her_voice,

Which

would have

made

_my

_verysoul

rejoice;

Then

_{all, unnoticed, friend or foe,pass'd}

_by

»

The

_world,

and

all itsinharmonious _sound,

Silenced

and

seal'd in

_musings

_{most profound,} Till startled into

life, roused

from

the theme,

I

would

awake

like _{sluggard from}a _dream,

And

_gazing

round

in _stupor

and

_surprise,

First on the earth

and

then

_upon

the skies

—

Myself

I

would

_upbraid

most

_piteously,

And

still exclaim

—

No

man

e'erloved like

me

!

(

hat

fann'd the flame

and

made

it_brighter

_glow?

A

_power

within,

which

Stoicsnever

know

!

Perchance

we

often

met

—

_{I say not where,}

—

But

_where, alas!

no

_{words, butglances were.}

And

then electric

_{magic from}

each _glance

Stole _through

_my

bosom

like a _burninglance;

—

Spoke

to

_my

spirit witha spirit's voice,

A

soft _benignity of look

was

there,

A

_gleam

of_{joy, a}

shadow

of _despair,

As

_fleecy clouds that_glideo'erLuna's _faee,

But

_scarcely

dim

_{a portion} of her_grace,

Peopling

my

brain with

new

_{created themes,}

That

_only lover _{knows, or poet}

dreams

;

—

Pour'd noontide

beams

of _glory o'er

_my

soul

In

_{light ethereal} with divine_control,

And

_{hopestoo high, tooholy} e'er to be

Knjoy'd, o'ercame

me

with _sublimit}-!

$

knew

her

home, and

often pass'd that way, Sure as the _{sun perform'd} his course each

_day

;

Then

at her _lattice,

_beaming

like the _morn, I

saw

the

maid

that

made

_my

heart forlorn

;

Though

by

this _{heavenly hope} the_spell

was

_rear'd,

Our

_{mutual prudence} declaration fear'd;

Yet

could I

mark

her _{straining, longing}eyes,

Beam

liketwin stars _{through partly-shrouded} skies.

Scoff not

—

for_yearsI still _pursued this_art,

In

_hopes to_{wile the angel}to

_my

heart

;

In

_hopes tomeet, to breathe the latentspell,

And

if _unkind, to _sigh

and

say farewell!

Such

_things, I _said, have_been,

and

still

_may

be,

One

_only holds_{futurity'sgold} key.

(IjJ)! if the gods live

on

ambrosial food,

Bv

mortals

named,

norseen, nor understood

—

So hope

unseen

_{by any}

eyessave mine,

Fed

_my

_young

heartwith nutriment divine!

Rear'd

me

to feel _{with glowing} soul of_joy

The

charms

of love,

though

otherwise aboy.'

The

cup

was

sweet, I

drank

its deepest drop,

O

_Hope

! thou sweet deceiverof the world!

Thy

banner is too _temptingly unfurl'd

—

How

_many

seek _thy

_phantom

form _{to trace,}

Till sorrow clouds the sunshineof the face!

Led

on

and

on

_by

_thydelusive_sway,

Till _youth

and

_{beauty languish both away,}

—

Till _undeceived,

we murmur,

but in vain

—

For

who

can turn to_youth's

_gay

morn

_again!

Ah

me

! if I should

own

thysov'reign power,

Who

dares to

blame?

See

buds

in _{every bower.}

Whose

livesare like to _{man's, afleeting}

_day

—

Nursed

_up

in

_hope

to blossom

and

_decay!

Rear'd

_by

the

_dewy

smiles _{of laughing morn,}

Behold

the rose adorn its_{native thorn,}

—

At

_mid-day

_throwing forth itsrich _perfume,

—

Yet

in itsdeath _{a fragrance leaves behind,}

Like

_{retrospectivethoughts within} the

mind

!

(MjETHiNKS

I see

some

_{agedcynic smile,}

And

_say, thouartthe

_dupe

of thine

own

guile-Your

actionscould no better

end

_declare,

For

foolishness

must

always_{bring despair}!

Pshaw

! _simpletons,

_your

_greatest

wisdom

lies

In the

mean

leerthat lurks about

_your

_eyes,

—

In

thedeceitful _{grin that clothes}

_your

_cheek,

In

the slowaccents_{of your language} sleek

;

Your

life is_spurn'd,

and

so

_your

_pedigree,

And

self-esteem.

No

man

e'er loved like

me

!

)HE

was

a child

when

firstour _glances

met

Now

womanhood

_upon

her

brow

had

set;

Still look'd she _{lovely, lovelier}than before!

At

least I _thought so

—

love

_may

have the

_power

To

make

the meanest

weed

_appear a _flower,

—

Look

_through a

medium

_always soft

and

kind,

Like

_{distant landscapes pictured} on the

mind

!

Love

gazesthrough a focus of its

_own,

To

_{other eyes} unseen

and

all

unknown

;

So, if she still

was

lovely to

my

eye,

What

should I care

_though

all her

charms

_decry,

I

scarcely wish'd that other eyesshould see

Her

_{chasten'd worth,}forshe

was

all to

me

!

,H

sacred

Love!

how

innocentartthou!

No

malice sits_{on thy devoted}

brow

—

No

discord

jars thestrings

around

thy heart;

Thou

art _{an heavenly feeling, every}

part!

No

_earthly lusts

pollute thy chasten'd name, Theseare

consumed

to embers in the flame!

In

all _{the strange}arcanaof the _mind,

Nought

but theirmerest dust is leftbehind.

A

brighter

and

more

gloriousspiritreigns

—

A

livelier currentcircles_through the _veins,

New

_thoughts,

new

fancies, hopes,

and

chastedesire,

With

varied

joys, that never, nevertire!

Sweet _inspiration, with its

wondrous

_charm,

Like power

magnetic,

draws

the soul from

harm

;

Yet, ever mingled with incessant _fear,

Our

joys partake the moisture of a tear;

Since first of timeit hasbeen_{so, 'twill} be

While

life _{holds on,} its marvellous _mystery.

No,

thus _inspired, I chose heras

_my

_muse,

No

better _goddess could

_my

bosom

choose!

The

heathens

had

theirdeities, butshe

But

still in _song I never breathed her

name,

Fearful

_my

feeble verse

_might

cause her .-hame

—

Fearful thatsuch a _{liberty might} chase

The

_partial smile of favour

from

herface.

Fearful _{the sneering} world too

_might

know

The

favourite _maid,

who

caused

mv

latent _woe,

And

_by

the idle

mouth

of

rumour

_quell

The

fervid_spirit of acherish'd _spell.

No

confidant

had

I, such I disown!

Mine

was

asecret nevertobe

known.

Nature had thrown

herfairest robes_away,

To

_weep

in sackcloth on that fatal _day!

Deep

in

_my

breastI treasured

and

revered

That

_holy word,

and

there itstendrils rear'd;

It never, never shall in utterancebe

§hat'sina

name

?

"

A

rose

would

smellassweet

By

any

other," isa triteconceit!

Names

_giveabhorrence if _{they are unkind,}

A

pain,a leprous _{feeling to} the

mind

!

Names

that are

wed

to deeds of base_desire, Set _holy

feelings inthe breast on fire

;

Association _{lingers in}the _sound,

The

sore _{long cured becomes a second}

_wound

;

Sad

_{retrospection}

_{wakens up}

anew

Perhaps

the painsof one

who

was

_untrue,

Where

kind oblivion

had

her olive

huno-In

_{gentle peace}to easea

bosom

_wrung.

There

isasecret _{somethingthat controls}

With

_spectra]

_gloom

our _{never-slumbering}souls;

We

look_aghast,

and

_struggleto conceal

The

shock, that

might

a thousand truths

Ami,

as ilie recollection fades _away,

So sunbeams

fall

_upon

ourdark dismay;

The

_branchy streams of life, a

moment

still,

Resume

their course

and

mitigate the ill.

"

What's

in a

name?"

I can _{too plainly} tell!

A

wondrous, inward-working, sacred _spell,

That

wheresoe'erone

name

_escaped man's _lips,

My

spirit rose

from

out its dark _eclipse,

And

in theSacred

book

I often found

The

_{impress dear with heavenly} halo

bound

!

And

_{angel forms scem'd whispering}in

mine

ear

The

accents of the

name

I loved sodear.

O

!

when

I

met

with one

who

own'd

the _same,

My

heart's _{pulsations quicker went and}

_came;

All other_{thoughts were} banish'd

_by

thesound;

My

filming eyes fix'd thoughtful on theground ;

Silence has

bound

_my

_tongue

and

chain'd

_my

feet, Struck

_by

the accents of a

sound

so_sweet,

And

those_{around have whisper'd}in

mine

ear

—

Wherefore

arises thatinstinctive tear?

Wherefore

?

Ah

! let

none

savean _angelspeak

In

strains celestial and _{serenely sweet}!

An

heavenly feeling fill'd

my

conscious heart,

Like

fancied music

which

_{the spheres impart};

No

_{earth-taughttongue}could in its

_might

disclose

The

_eloquence it_pour'd

_upon

_my

woes;

Even

heard

from

children in their

wanton

glee,

'Twas

_{youth-renewingecstasy to} me.

(g^HAT

timeI

went

torest,

what

time I rose,

My

mind

was

_{throng'd with} all _{these joys}

and

woes,

'Mid

sunlit scenes, in sylvan beauty green,

Methought

I heard

them

chant in _{rapturoustone,}

Get

wed

!

get

wed!

why

languish thus alone?

Or

when

_{the glorious}sun roll'd

down

_{the west,}

And

clouds

lay lambent in theirgolden rest;

Or

when

cool _evening

_wept

her

dew

on _flowers,

To

_quench

their thirst

and

_spangledsedal bowers,

There

was no

_change

—

the _pure ethereal

theme

Felt no exhausted fondness in its _dream,

But

_reign'd and ruled_{an empress glad}

and

free,

With

_{boundless sway,} inendless

_monarchy.

1 _{w as absence,} like a _spell, that _chiefly

bound

My

captiveheart with firmerirons round.

Absence, thou cheat of sight,thou

more

than blind

And

dark deceiver! whereforeso _unkind,

To

hide that heaven

on

earth I _long'd to see?

pJb)HROUGH

shadowy

glade, or

by meandering

rill,

Where

all _{but Nature's eloquence} is _still,

I, in thedepth of uncontroll'd despair,

Address

_my

sorrowto thesoft-ear'dair.

O

loved one of

_my

bosom

!

gentlest

maid

!

Say,

have

I e'er_{thy tender truth betray}'d ?

Does

_pensive silence

wound

_thy heartlike _mine,

Or

has oblivionseal'd the

charm

divine?

Have

_{Lethe's waters, pouring} o'er _{thy mind,}

Sunk

all the _{varyingpassions,} onceso kind?

Or

was

I

_wrong

to lookfor love_return'd,

Though

wildly

and

sincere this

bosom

burn'd ?

Alas!

w

T

hat reasons evercan _explain

Such

_{soul-consuming}

_{and unspoken}

_pain?

A

mutual

_{mingling of}

two

spritesabove

££

woman!

woman!

ever true

and

kind,

Thou

sweet _perfection of _{the gentle}

mind!

Blestto refine _thy lord-like _brother-man,

The

_last, but noblestof the _{Almighty's plan}!

How

calm,

how

tender,

and

how

full of love,

An

_{earthlyangel sent}

him

fromabove;

—

A

_being in

whose

soft_{expressive eyes}

We

read the light, the language of theskies!

j-YVjiiAT timethe dulcet accentsof thy voice

Mine

ear _{receives, they}

make

_my

heart _rejoice;

What

time I see_{thy graceful}

form

_divine,

I feel in truth that lovelinessis thine;

—

And

in _thy smile

what

_{matchless beauties blend,}

Thou

chasten'd _gift! thou _{everlasting friend}!

q£)Each

me, ye

muses

! to_{portray her praise}

In

words

of _living fire, that

burn

always;

Let

me

_unfold, in _{every glowing line,}

Some

charm,

O

woman

! thatalone is thine;

Inspire

my

pen,

and

dip itin

_my

_heart,

Let

not a_{thought be} chill'd

_by

_{rigid art};

Chain

to

remembrance

all

_my

bosom

feels

;

Let

time

move

sloweron its _{viewless wheels,}

Till all is writ_{on adamant,} tostand

So

_long as_light illumes

_my

native land!

(tjj)

mainspring

of domestic love

and

joy!

Can

man

have

haunts that

would

_{thy peace destroy}?

Can

_any

_pleasures

which

these scenes _impart

Float with such genuine feeling

round

theheart?

Can

_gay

_{companionship,} or_{false desire,}

More

than their

_moment,

mortal _{breasts inspire ?}

Ah

!

no

—

in such_society as thine,

To

thee_{alone belongs the} siren

_power

To

_keep theodour in life's _{fading flower;}

To

thee _{alone belongs the}

_power

to bind

The

vernal

_growth

of _glory to the _mind,

And

_{man, however}

_great

_{and good}

he _be,

Soon

turns _{a blank,} if once he turns

from

thee!

^S^ITH what

ensanguine

words

shall I impart

The

_genuine love thatfills the mother's heart;

That

fond_delight

which

_glows in _{rapturous joy}

—

Nor

_{poverty nor}sickness can _destroy,

When

the firstartlesssmile of love is _given,

Which

makes

her

_{baby more}

a _thing of _heaven,

And

on the _{dimpling cheek of peachy}

hue

This _sign of _recognition meets herview.

(&\§hen

cares, likeage,creep o'erus

and

destroy

Her

_glowing tear of

_sympathy

outvies

The

_spangly

dew

that

on

thevioletlies,

Distilling purely

from

affection's well,

Where

all _{the pearls of} dearattraction dwell.

O

blissful _thought! to see theesmilethrough these,

And

all to_{give the} burthen'd

bosom

ease

;

—

O

more

thansainted _sight, far

more

than _earth,

When

we

reflectthe _{feeling's genuine}birth

—

To

soften

_man,

tolead

him

from

his care;

—

To

wash

_away

thestains of dark _despair;

—

To

reconcile his

bosom

to his_fate,

O

this is_{surely, truly, being great}!

(Tp thy heart gay,

what

can with thee

compare

?

What

votive transports

make

thee still

more

fair?

Can

the vermilion

add

a sweeter hue,

Can

wealth _{or earthly} vanities _inspire,

Where

love has setthe vestal hearton fin".'

Careless alike of their too

mean

_control,

Heaven

holds a_{higher banquet} in the soul!

And

_Nature, as at_{first, free, undefined,}

Makes

_{thee again} as sinless as a child!

(gjOES

man

desert thee, turn

and

love

no

more

;

Is _thysoft _passion then as_fleetly o'er?

—

Ah,

no! Is there in _yondervaried

bower

A

fragile plant, a winter-breathingflower,

That,

by

degrees, droopsinto paledecay,

And

wanes

in silent loneliness

_away

? E'en so fade_hopes

and

_happiness in thee

—

Emblem

_{of spring}

—

heirof _eternity!

jgHiE

was

the heroine, then, of everytale

That

flush'd

_my

cheek, or

made

it

sickly pale;

In dreams

I

saw

her vision'd forth in joy,

And

felt as

_{young and}

_buoyantas _{a boy}!

Heard

herdiscourse of future _joys,

and

tell

How

much

_{she loved,}

and

_{thoughtshe loved too well;}

Thus

_fancy ever form'dideal _things, Till I could hear the _rustling of the_wings

Of

beings of thesky.

—

To

love is_given

A

_power

to feel

and

taste_{the joys of} heaven!

Hear

with

new

ears, to see withseer-like eyes,

And,

phoenix-like,

from

fear's pale ashes rise!

^hen

love

was

_young, the_godscelestial _lay

On

_{gold-tinged clouds}that

hemm'd

theskirtsof

_day

;

Gazing

in _glory

from

theircouchon _high,

A

_{misty globe seem'd} rolling

down

the sky,

And

on itsdisc

two

_speck-like formsdid

move

—

'Twas

Eve

and

Adam

_{wandering hand}

in _hand,

The

sole _possessors of _{that sphere-like land}!

Inspiring

love!

who

shall _{thy powers}

portray,

Howe'er

unbless'd _thy votaries fade

_away

?

Bridle the winds, set limits to the_sea,

Bid wandering

clouds to be _{no longerfree;}

Call eagles

from

theair

on

_high,

and

bid

The

hills _decay,

and

in theseas be hid;

Tell _Springit

must

not _bud,

and

Autumn

brown

To

_keep its leaves

and throw no

_foliage

down

;

Bid

structuresrisein rowsat _thy

_command,

Without

materials or theartist's

hand

;

Teach

man

to live on _air,

and

rocks to

fly,

Tell birds no

more

to

roam

the ambient

_sky

:

Do

allthese _things,

—

when

_ye so _{powerful prove,}

(fo;0VEframed the world,

and

love created

man,

Love

is the soul of theinfinite _plan

;

Love

is _{the springof everyglorious deed,}

Love

makes

the _patriotfor his_countrybleed ;

Love

is the bliss _{of every}Christian _mind,

Love

makes

the_generous to theneedful kind

;

Love

makes

the

mother

o'erher infant _weep,

When

death has closedits _eyes in

icy sleep;

Love

bids the _{heathen worship}at_{the sun,}

Where

truth

and

science

have

not yet

begun

;

Love made

famed

W

Tallace like a_{lion bold,}

When

she he loved

was

_basely slainof old

;

Love

was

the_{parent of} thetear first _shed,

When

_gentle

Eve

beheld her

Abel

dead

;

Love

breathes

more

sweet than _seraph ever _sung,

Love

has its _sighs,

on whose

fair _wings is borne

A

beam

of _{gladness brighter} than the

morn

;

Love

makes

me

writethis _{retrospective lay,}

Whatever

_{readers think, or} critics_say!

Hush,

then, nor

deem

it

wisdom

to be free

Of

love's _gold links.

—

Xo

man

e'er loved like

me

!

(U.!

wherefore

then in

anguish pine

away

?

Thus

oft

mine

inward monitor

would

_say;

Why

not

declare, in

words

notyet express'd,

The

secret, silent sorrow of thy breast?

[t shall be so, I boldly

would

reply,

And

_{then reviving gladness} lit

mine

_eye ;

It shall be so.

O

vain!

O

weak

desire!

Dissolving likethe

snow when

cast

on

fire.

Alas! alas! even

when

I

grasp'd the pen,

A

tremulous _feeling shook

_my

_very frame,

I could not_breathe, I could notwrite her name.

O

sad resolve!

how

_{quickly wouldst} thou _fly

Upon

the pinionsof _{a pensive sigh}!

For

_prudence,

when

itrules the

mind

_aright,

With

_hope

and

doubt

—

alternate

_{day and}

_night

—

Creates a fearful _feeling, half insane!

Which

dreadsthe merest semblance of disdain;

This

wondrous

sensibility of

mind

Can

brook

no _look,

no

accentthat's

unkind

;

A

no, insteadof yes,

—

no

more

!

no more

!

The

_{very thought sends poison} tothe core

;

For

this

_might

tothe _sanguine soul _convey

A

dreaded _{fate, a desperatedismay,}

An

humbled,

an abash'd

and

_{startling pain,}

That might

no

more

be curb'd

_by

reason's rein.

Better,

O

better far! in each degree,

Unspoken

wish.

—

No

man

e'erloved like

me!

^)HUS

oft _{I long'd} to tell

_my

secret

mind

To

some

dear friend

whose

_{sympathies were kind,}

That

we

_might

meet, as if it _{were bychance,}

Round

festive _{board, or}in the

_mazy

dance;

But, oh! I durst not

speak the tremulous tale,

So

_{often sigh'd}

on

_evening's

_dewy

_gale,

—

So

_{deeply graven}

on

_{each page of} life,

The

sourceof all

_my

_happiness

and

strife;

Yet when

I

_oped

_{the guest-inclosing door,}

And

_tript in _lightness o'er the velvet _floor,

I've _gazed

around

with wild

and

_{wond'ringstare,}

Perhaps

to see if suchan one

were

there;

Ah

! then

my

anxious

spirit

would

grow

still,

For

what

_{I long'd} so

much

in _joyto _greet,

My

timid _spirit could not brook to meet. I could not trust

_my

_heart, full well I

knew

A

sudden

_glance

would

all

_my

framesubdue;

—

Would

thus _expose the

_workings

of

_my

soul,

O'er

which

_my

manhood

could nothold control.

She

never

came

—

O

_strange,

O

weak

_dismay

!

Thus,

day and

night,

my

hoursstole sadaway,

For

everbent

on

one_{engrossing theme,}

Yet

all uncertain asa

poet's

dream

!

$k)T last I left

my

home, went

far

away

To

mix

with crowdsof _strangers,

where

the_gay

And

_{gorgeous wheels of luxury} roll _along

In

_{an outvying}

and

_{tumultuous throng}!

Where

painted pride

and mimicry

conspire

And

_toys in _artificial, fund _display,

Sleep all the

morn

to _{gild the} eve of

_day

!

Lollingin soft

and

indolent repose,

As

if the _poor lack'd none to soothe their woes.

1 1 !

hearts

diseased

by

pride

and

fashion'sglow,

Are

these the_{only raptures} that _ye

know?

Isthere _{no joy} in_{cheering lonely hearts,}

—

In _plucking

from

fell _poverty its darts?

Isthere _{no aged} breast

_{by want subdued}

?

Xo

flowersto _spread

where

thorns are _onlystrew'd?

Xo

sympathy,

no

gentle

hand

to give

To

woe-

worn

wretches

who

scarcecareto live?

Your

_pleasurescannot

charm

_my

_{marvelling eye,}

Go

teach those onesto smile

whose

life's _{a sigh};

—

Go

ease thecouch of death

—

_{of deep dismay,}

—

'Twill <rive relief

when

earthlv joys decay.

I've _sought

_your

hauntsto _mitigate

_my

_care,

But, ah! _{ye but} contrasta world's despair

;

So

_{hapless beingsfly} to banish _woe,

Forgetting 'tis _{within where'er they}

go.

Earth's noblest_{sights, earth's}

_{wonder-working men,}

Cannot

obliterate

_my

immortal

ken

!

—

The

smile of _{peer or princess has} no

_power

To

wile

_my

loved one

from

_my

breastan hour;

In every changeful scene,

O

! _onlyshe

Is present most,

and

holds_supremacy.

(vD

(fc)ONG, long, I wander'd 'mid the

gay and

fair,

Striving to

seem

the happiestmortal there;

—

Striving tosoothe

my

sad,

my

chequer'd life,

And

thus extract sweetcomfort

from

_my

strife. Alas!

they

knew

not,

when

they

saw

me

smile,

I

wore

her beauteous

_image

in

_my

soul;

Through

every thoughtthe dear

enchantment

stole!

Through

everyvein I felther_being

move,

Inhaled her_spirit

and

exhaled her love!

The

_dreamy

_cup I

drank

_{of sparkling hope,}

And

suck'd it

still, todrain the latest drop;

Deep

in

_my

breast, like

dew-drop

in a _flower,

It lay conceal'd, but gave refreshing

power

;

Till _{high enraptured with} the_{draughtdivine,}

My

soul dissolved attheenhallow'd shrine!

,1 iK>r<;n poorthe world, yetinone

person join'd,

Beauty and

wealth

more

often

meet

than

mind

!

But

she

was

mind

to _{me, an} endless

theme

That

fed

_my

_day-thoughts

and

_my

_midnight

dream

;

The

_{joy of} life,

from

which

I always

drew

Yet

absenceoft_{brought sorrow}o'er

_my

_mind,

Like

dark clouds _sailing on the

summer

_wind,

Till lostin _thought,

subdued

in heart

and

_speech,

Unbroken

silence countless fears

would

teach;

And

_{then they}said,he treads his native hills,

And

_{gazes fondly on} their

_foaming

rills,

—

Sees the _{proud eagle} in its

heavenward

_flight

Towering

above, 'mid clouds of storm

and

night!

—

When

dark-soul'd winter o'erhis _{cottage hung,}

And

feeling, hope,

and

life itself were

_young

!

Hears

downward

streams, that, asthey glide along,

Have

all their

own

and most

_{peculiar song}

;

—

Draws

_beauty

from

the_lakes,health

from

the breeze

That

sails the surface of _{the weltering}seas

—

Nor

_love, nor _art,norsorrowcould _they see

1 ii

ink

of a

bosom

_wrung

with _dec])

despair,

Jictween sweet hope, sad doubt,

and

_{joy and} care;

Say what

yon will, or

what yon would

have done.

Ye

speak the

words

of folly every one!

Say, then,could I,

whose boyhood grew

in love,

Throw

off its _chains,

and

all its

charms

_disprove?

As

well

_might

_eaglecaged, with _{starry eye,}

Assume

torise in

gladness tothe sky;

As

well

_might

_captive in his_dungeon-cell

Take

ease

_by

_{purling brook} or_{heatherydell,}

Or

_mother,

_weeping

o'er_{her only} child

That

death

had

chill'd,be

from

hergrief beguiled,

And

slaves consolethemselves _{that they are} free

While

irons clank.

—

No

man

e'erloved like

me

!

ggET deem

me

not in _fancy

weak

or vain In echoingforth this _{sad pathetic}strain;

'Tisbutto _prove

what

lovecan still _deny,

When

wealth

and

influence

would

affection

_bny

!

'Tis butto

show

the

sceptic heis

wrong

In _saying lovecannot endure so_long;

Exclaiming

—

all is

madness

—

as his soul

Has

never

known

its _magical control.

Think

_{for yourselves}

—

but likea

culprit I

Was

doom'd

forher to _live, forherto die!

She

bound

_my

_{spiritwith magneticchains,}

One

hour

of bliss

was mine

for_years of _pains!

Yet

all _{these pains were mingled with}a

charm

That

could the world's _cold,selfish arts _disarm,

Engendering

new

ideas as _{they swept}

The

_pensileclouds

where

love

dominion

_kept,

And,

passingthrough Hope'scrucible, refined

The

_{ruder thoughts}that rule the

common

mind

I

would

not lose the _joy forall the_pain,

Though

doom'd

to tread the _{rugged path again}!

Still could I cherish

buds

_{that bleakly grew,}

Cast forth their seeds

and

watch their

_growth

_anew,

For

I

had

_given

_my

heart with

vows most

_true,

And

if I'd

had

_another,

had

_given it too!

Yet

in

_my

grief I languished to be free,

So

_strangeis _thought

—

so

weak

_humanity

!

paired

of a land of strange

and

selfish

men,

I sought

my

Scottish

mountain-home

_again,

And

when

I

leap'd

upon

the rock-ribb'd strand,

Methought

I felt_{the pressure} of her

hand

—

Methought

I

saw

hersmile,

and

heard hersay

—

Welcome,

O

!

welcome, wherefore did ye stray?

Speak

asthou _wilt, but with these

hands

I'll bind

then I breathed the burden of

_my

heart,

Nor

_longer seal'd

_my

_soul, while ateach _part

She

_hung

herhead

and

answer'd to

_my

_sighs

With

tearsof love_depending

from

her eyes!

Methought

Ikiss'd hercheek

—

O

heaven!

what

_joy,

After a_{winter of prolong'd alloy}

—

Methought

I clasp'd her gently in

my

arms,

And

in their folds

embraced

a

world

of

charms

!

1 heard her voice, 'twas soft

and

silveryclear,

Like

_angel's accentssteal

_{upon mine}

_ear,

—

I _{gazed with transport} in her face so_fair,

And

love's _{devotion reign'd} in

triumph

there!

Anon

her tears

would

flow_{with very}

joy,

And

then

_my

heart return'd

them

like a

_boy

!

While

utterance died a _martyrin

_my

_breast,

< ) _softdelusive

charm

! vision'd _joy!

Why

is _your

triumph

only to

annoy?

Why

is the _{path of} love so _wildlyhigh,

With

rocks

and

_{ramparts mingling} with the

_sky?

Alas! the

dream was

_short, the

moment

gay,

Yanish'd too soon in _nothingness

_away

;

For

when

I reach'd her

home

with anxious _pain,

Determined

thus

_my

secret to explain, She, she

was

gone,

gone

to herlasting rest,

The

_{generous passion wither'd} in her breast;

Gone

with _{her maiden-grief,}

gone

ne'er to be

—

And

yet I live.

—

O

_{piteous destiny}!

rArXD yet I live to personate

my

woe,

A

lingering shadow,

moving

toand fro!

Live

still

when

all

_my

earthly hopes are fled

—

When

all that _{gave enchantment}

now

is dead!

Mark'd more by

grief

and

solitary thought,

Than

e'eron heart of _hapless mortal

_wrought

;

—

Than

ever thrill'd the _plastic

mind

of

_man,

Whose

secret

_might

_{cold learning} cannot scan

;

Sad

_{retrospection striving}to _destroy

The

autumn

of a life that else _{were joy;}

Hope

wither'd like a flower

when

winter chill

From

arctic _regions comes with direful will,

With

all the _{rooted blessing} of

_my

mind

Torn up

and strewn in handfuls on the

wind

!

Time's_finger hath done

_much,

_my

_silvery hair

But

_partlyshrouds a

brow

of lined _despair!

But

sorrow hath done more, hath sear'd

_my

soul,

And

writ this awful _history on its scroll;

And

when

I leavethis earth to soaron high,

O

may

her

< I

may

we

then declare a mutual love, [f _spirit- blend in

_harmony

above.

In firm reliance on this _hope

divine,

May

calmer _grief and holier _thought be mine!

Al v tale is _told, let all

who

read the

same

Forgive its faults

—

1 ask no hetter lame!

—

Forgive the ardour of a love sostrange, That, 'mid all other

changes,

knew

no change;

Mv

heart is

lighten'd

by

this honest lav.

And,

for a _{time, has}

_thrown

its load awav.

A

leaden _weight that lmt too sadly bore

A

vital nicer, _eating to the core.

And

in its _{path puissant} stole_along

The

living chords that

whilom

thrill'd with _song! I've traced

_my

love from childhood into_age,

And

mark'd its

_growth

in

"With soul-felt_{candour only} as

_my

aim,

Which

ever lives_through endless time the

same

!

O

_may

your loves_{be happier} far than

mine

!

Dread

notto _worship atthe sainted shrine;

Let

reason _{guide you, look} for sweet_success,

Nor

sicken at the tale of

_my

distress.

Seek truth, be faithful, worth is

more

than _gold ;

—

"Worth cheers the heart

when

other

_{charms grow}

old!

With

first _{love's joys,}

O

_may

_ye blessedbe.

One

truth believe

—

No

man

e'er loved like

me

!

Los_Angeles

This bookis

DUE

onthelastdate_stampedbelow.

583U

Silent

love

W69s

m

5831;