Page:Felicia Hemans in The New Monthly Magazine Volume 40 1834.pdf/9

 hopes, the light of which we could have desired to recognise more frequently in this deeply thoughtful work:— "Alas! too well I feel, too true a voice Within me whispers, that the mighty Power Which, on sustaining wings of strength and joy, Bears up the healthful spirit, will but cast Mine to the earth—will rend me utterly!—— I must away!"

"Rightly thou speak'st; I am myself no more, And yet in worth not less than I have been. Seems this a dark, strange riddle? Yet 'tis none! The gentle moon that gladdens thee by night, Thine eye, thy spirit irresistibly Winning with beams of love—mark! how it floats Thro' the day's glare, a pale and powerless cloud! I am o'ercome by the full blaze of noon; Ye know me, and I know myself no more!"

"Vainly, too vainly, 'gainst the power I strive, Which, night and day, comes rushing thro' my soul! Without that pouring forth of thought and song My life is life no more! Wilt thou forbid the silkworm to spin on, When hourly, with the labour'd line, he draws Nearer to death?—in vain!—the costly web Must from his inmost being still be wrought, Till he lies wrapt in his consummate shroud. Oh! that a gracious God to us may give The lot of that blest worm!—to spread free wings And burst exultingly on brighter life, In a new realm of sunshine!"

He is at last released, and admitted into the presence of the Princess Leonora, to take his leave of her before commencing a distant journey. Notwithstanding his previous doubts of her interest in him, he is overcome by the pitying tenderness of her manner, and breaks into a strain of passionate gratitude and enthusiasm:— "Thou art the same pure angel, as when first Thy radiance cross'd my path. Forgive, forgive, If for a moment, in his blind despair, The mortal's troubled glance hath read thee wrong! Once more he knows thee! His expanding soul Flows forth to worship thee for evermore, And his full heart dissolves in tenderness! Is it false light which draws me on to thee? Is it delirium?—Is it thought inspired, And grasping first high truth divinely clear? Yes! 'tis ev'n so—the feeling which alone Can make me blest on earth!"

The wildness of his ecstacy at last terrifies his gentle protectress from him; he is forsaken by all as a being lost in hopeless delusion, and being left alone to the insulting pity of Antonio, his strength of heart is utterly subdued; he passionately bewails his weakness, and even casts down his spirit almost in wondering admiration before the calm