Page:Forget Me Not 1824.pdf/2

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The Literary Museum and Register of Arts, Sciences, Belles Lettres, &c. 1st November 1823

Review: Forget Me Not; a Christmas and New Year's Present for 1824. London. 12mo. pp.390. Ackerman.

. . . . to its German archetypes. It contains several beautiful pieces of poetry from the pens of Montgomery, Bernard Barton, and some anonymous contributors. One of these last we will extract :

. A Fragment.

Is she not beautiful, although so pale? The first May flowers are not more colourless Than her white cheek; yet I recal the time When she was called the rosebud of our village. There was a blush, half modesty, half health, Upon her cheek, fresh as the summer morn With which she rose. A cloud of chesnut curls, Like twilight, darkened o’er her blue-veined brow; And through their hazel curtains, eyes, whose light Was like the violet’s, when April skies Have given their own pure colour to the leaves, Shone sweet and silent, as the twilight star. And she was happy—innocence and hope Make the young heart a paradise for love. And she loved, and was loved. The youth was one That dwelled on the waters. He had been Where sweeps the blue Atlantic, a wide world— Had seen the sun light up the flowers, like gems, In the bright Indian isles—had breathed the air When sweet with cinnamon, and gum, and spice.