And leave us rulers of your blood May children of our children say, 'Her court was pure; her life serene; God gave her peace; her land reposed ; A thousand claims to reverence closed In her as Mother, Wife, and Queen ; 'And statesmen at her council met Who knew the seasons, when to take Occasion by the hand, and make 'The bounds of freedom wider yet 'By shaping some august decree, MARCH, 1851. POEMS. CLARIBEL. A MELODY. WHER I. WHERE Claribel low-lieth The breezes pause and die, Letting the rose-leaves fall: But the solemn oak-tree sigheth, Thick-leaved, ambrosial, With an ancient melody Of an inward agony, Where Claribel low-lieth. 2. At eve the beetle boometh 3. Her song the lintwhite swelleth, LILIAN. I. AIRY, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, She'll not tell me if she love me, 2. When my passion seeks Smiling, never speaks : So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, The baby-roses in her cheeks; 3. Prythee weep, May Lilian ! 4. Praying all I can, If prayers will not hush thee, Airy Lilian, Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, ISABEL. I. YES not down-dropt nor over-bright, but fed EY With the clear-pointed flame of chastity, Clear, without heat, undying, tended by Pure vestal thoughts in the translucent fane Of her still spirit; locks not wide-dispread, Madonna-wise on either side her head; Sweet lips whereon perpetually did reign The summer calm of golden charity, Were fixed shadows of thy fixed mood, Revered Isabel, the crown and head, The stately flower of female fortitude, Of perfect wifehood and pure lowlihead. 2. The intuitive decision of a bright Error from crime; a prudence to withhold; Of subtle-paced counsel in distress, Winning its way with extreme gentleness A hate of gossip parlance, and of sway, 3. The mellow'd reflex of a winter moon; With swifter movement and in purer light Of rich fruit-bunches leaning on each other— Of such a finish'd chasten'd purity. |