Page:Landon in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book 1835.pdf/23

Rh

old Mansion of Lanhern belonged to the Lords Arundell, of Wardour. It was given in 1794 by Henry Eighth, Lord Arundell, as an asylum for a convent of English Theresian nuns, who had migrated from Antwerp, in consequence of the invasion of the French. The sisterhood, or rather their successors, still continue secluded in the old and lonely house now called the Lanhern Nunnery.

stands amid the sheltering boughs, A place of peace—a place of rest, Where the veiled virgin's hourly vows By prayer and penitence are blest. The sunshine rests upon the walls More golden than the common day, And there a stiller shadow falls Than rests on life's tumultuous way.

Alas! why should this quiet place Bring fancies of unrest to me; Why looks forth that beloved face I seem in every place to see? Ah, what may not those walls conceal! The sunshine of that sainted shrine Might from its inmost depths reveal Some spirit passionate as mine;

Some one condemned in youth to part From all that made her youth so dear, To listen to her beating heart, In shame—in solitude and fear: To know no hope before the grave, To fear there is no hope beyond, Yet scarcely dare of heaven to crave Forgiveness for a faith too fond:

To feel the white and vestal veil Grow wet and warm with worldly tears, To pass the midnight watching pale, Yet tremble when the day appears: Prostrate before the cross to kneel, With eyes that may not look above; How dare the delicate to feel The agony of earthly love?