By those lids whose jetty fringe By that lip I long to taste; By that zone encircled waist; Maid of Athens! I am gone; Think of me sweet! when alone. When we two parted In silence and tears, Half broken-hearted To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek, and cold, Colder thy kiss; Truly, that hour foretold Sorrow to this. FORGET THEE. "Forget thee?" If to dream by night, And muse on thee by day, If all the worship deep and wild If prayers in absence breathed for thee To Heaven's protecting power, If wingéd thoughts that flit to thee,— "Forget thee?" Bid the forest-birds Bid the thirsty flowers forget to drink The eve's refreshing dew; Thyself forget thine own "dear land," And its "mountains wild and blue," Forget each old familiar face, Each long-remembered spot, When these things are forgot by thee, Then thou shalt be forgot! Keep, if thou wilt, thy maiden peace, Still calm and fancy-free, FOREVER THINE. For God forbid thy gladsome heart But let it nurse its humble faith, If these, preserved for patient years, Forget me then; but ne'er believe JOHN MOULTRIE. 87 FOREVER THINE. Forever thine, whate'er this heart betide; The world may wrong us, we will brave its hate; False friends may change, and falser hopes decline; Though bowed by cankering cares, we'll smile at Fate, Since thou art mine, beloved, and I am thine! Forever thine, when circling years have spread Time's snowy blossoms o'er thy placid brow; When youth's rich glow, its "purple light," is fled, And lilies bloom where roses flourish now ; Say, shall I love the fading beauty less Whose spring-tide radiance has been wholly mine? No,- -come what will, thy steadfast truth I'll bless, In youth, in age-thine own, forever thine! Forever thine, at evening's dewy hour, When gentle hearts to tenderest thoughts incline; When balmiest odors from each closing flower Are breathing round me,-thine, forever thine! Forever thine! 'mid Fashion's heartless throng; In courtly bowers, at Folly's gilded shrine ;Smiles on my cheek, light words upon my tongue, My deep heart still is thine,-forever thine! Forever thine, amid the boisterous crowd, Where the jest sparkles, with the sparkling wine; I may not name thy gentle name aloud, But drink to thee in thought,-forever thine! |