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1837

 

BRIDAL BALLAD

 

The ring is on my hand,
    And the wreath is on my brow;
Satins and jewels grand
Are all at my command,
    And I am happy now.

And my lord he loves me well;
    But, when first he breathed his vow,
I felt my bosom swell
For the words rang as a knell,
And the voice seemed his who fell
In the battle down the dell,
    And who is happy now.

But he spoke to re‑assure me,
    And he kissed my pallid brow,
While a reverie came oer me,
And to the church‑yard bore me,
And I sighed to him before me,
(Thinking him dead DElormie),
    �Oh, I am happy now!

And thus the words were spoken;
    And this the plighted vow;
And, though my faith be broken,
And, though my heart be broken,
Here is a ring, as token
    That I am happy now!
Behold the golden token
    That proves me happy now!

Would God I could awaken!
    For I dream I know not how,
And my soul is sorely shaken
Lest an evil step be taken,
Lest the dead who is forsaken
   May not be happy now.

 

SONNET TO ZANTE

 
Fair isle, that from the fairest of all flowers,
    Thy gentlest of all gentle names dost take!
How many memories of what radiant hours
    At sight of thee and thine at once awake!
How many scenes of what departed bliss!
    How many thoughts of what entomb�d hopes!
How many visions of a maiden that is
    No more no more upon thy verdant slopes!
No more! alas, that magical sad sound
    Transforming all! Thy charms shall please no more,
Thy memory no more! Accurs�d ground
    Henceforth I hold thy flower‑enamelled shore,
O hyacinthine isle! O purple Zante!
   �Isola d�oro! Fior di Levante!