THE LORD OF BURLEIGH. In her ear he whispers gaily, "If my heart by signs can tell, Maiden, I have watch'd thee daily, And I think thou lov'st me well." She replies, in accents fainter, Leads her to the village altar, 66 And they leave her father's roof. "I can make no marriage present; Little can I give my wife. Love will make our cottage pleasant, And I love thee more than life." They by parks and lodges going A A Summer woods, about them blowing, Made a murmur in the land. From deep thought himself he rouses, Lay betwixt his home and hers; Built for pleasure and for state. Where they twain will spend their days. O but she will love him truly! He shall have a cheerful home; She will order all things duly, When beneath his roof they come. Thus her heart rejoices greatly, Than all those she saw before : Many a gallant gay domestic Bows before him at the door. And they speak in gentle murmur, Here he lives in state and bounty, All at once the colour flushes Her sweet face from brow to chin: As it were with shame she blushes, And her spirit changed within. Then her countenance all over Pale again as death did prove : But he clasp'd her like a lover, And he cheer'd her soul with love. So she strove against her weakness, Though at times her spirits sank: Shaped her heart with woman's meekness To all duties of her rank : And a gentle consort made he, And her gentle mind was such AA 2 That she grew a noble lady, Faint she grew, and ever fainter, Three fair children first she bore him, And he came to look upon her, 66 And he look'd at her and said, Bring the dress and put it on her, That she wore when she was wed." Then her people, softly treading, Bore to earth her body, drest In the dress that she was wed in, That her spirit might have rest. SIR LAUNCELOT & QUEEN GUINEVERE. A FRAGMENT. LIKE souls that balance joy and pain, Came in a sun-lit fall of rain. In crystal vapour everywhere Blue isles of heaven laugh'd between, Sometimes the linnet piped his song: In curves the yellowing river ran, Above the teeming ground. |