Page:Felicia Hemans in The Winter's Wreath 1829.pdf/5



Rosa, Rosa! perche sulla tua belta Sempre e scritta questa parola—?

much of memory dwells amidst thy bloom,
 * Rose! ever wearing beauty for thy dower?

The Bridal day—the Festival—the Tomb—
 * Thou hast thy part in each—thou stateliest flower!

Therefore with thy soft breath come floating by
 * A thousand images of Love and Grief,

Dreams, fill'd with tokens of mortality,
 * Deep thoughts of all things beautiful and brief.

Not such thy spells o'er those that hail'd thee first
 * In the clear light of Eden's golden day;

There thy rich leaves to crimson glory burst,
 * Link'd with no dim remembrance of decay.

Rose! for the banquet gathered, and the bier;
 * Rose! coloured now by human hope or pain;

Surely where death is not—nor change, nor fear,
 * Yet may we meet thee, Joy's own Flower, again!