Thou, Lady, in thy meek, affectionate eyes, Few can resist; to me the charms they weave SONNET IX. IN heaven "" are many mansions"-what if thou, Hereafter cleansed from taint of mortal sin, By paths untrod by me, shouldst chance to win Some separate Paradise ?—The hope which now Soothes my bruised heart, and calms my sleepless brow, Oh! must it perish ?-when the stormy din Of life is o'er, shall we not meet within The halls of heaven, as once my soul did vow? Would I endure that thought!-'twere hell to know, 1823. SONNET X. Now, lady, that our parting is so nigh, Wilt tow'rd the South turn no unkindly eye, For I have found thee gentle, good, and wise, SONNET XI. SCOTCH QUADRILLES. PERISH the coxcomb who united first To these vain whimsies, hatch'd beyond the seas, Old Caledonia's touching melodies; Wedding the follies of that land accurst, To strains whose high and soothing music nursed 1824. SONNET XII. MAIDEN, there's many a fairer face than thine With grace by nature fashion'd-not by France. 1824. SONNET XIII. WHY dost thou haunt me with thy bright wild eyes And learning to be holy, pure, and wise, Oh! my sweet friend, I fear my phantasy Thy love on earth, I fear lest I should tire Cambridge, April, 1825. SONNET XIV. ARE there no marriages in heaven ?-then why Is earthly love so quenchless and so strong? Why doth the lover wish and yearn and long For bliss that dies not in eternity? No! no! the grave doth only purify Love's ore from its alloy-the sordid throng Of Earth's defilements, change, and chance, and wrong And jealous fears, and chill adversity. My Margaret, when I think on what thou art, From all that chains to earth our human heart, THE LAY OF THE LOVELY. 1. THE mirth and music of the festal hall, And sunshine of bright eyes, had past away; And, till late slumber should mine own enthrall, Circled with deep tranquillity I lay; Thinking, (as Bards should think,) in amorous wise, Of those sweet faces and love-beaming eyes. II. And soon upon my weary soul descended The dreamy sleep which is the Poet's waking; But still before my fancy's eye were blended The night's past joys, more rapturous still and taking An earthly glory from the gleams which come, When sleeps the body, of the spirit's home. III. I saw the many forms which I had deem'd So fair, that fairer nought on earth could be; But now from out their Human Beauty stream'd Effulgence as of Immortality; And when they lifted up their gentle eyes, I saw swift thoughts and winged phantasies IV. Throng thro' those azure gates, like gathering stars In summer-evening's sky; and when they spoke |