Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1822.pdf/22

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Literary Gazette, 11th May, 1822, Page 297

ORIGINAL POETRY. POETIC SKETCHES.

Second Series — Sketch the Second.

THE CONTRAST. - - - -  -  -   And this is love: Can you then say that love is happiness?

There were two Portraits: one was of a Girl Just blushing into woman; it was not A face of perfect beauty, but it had A most bewildering smile,—there was a glance Of such arch playfulness and innocence, That as you looked, a pleasant feeling came Over the heart, as when you hear a sound Of cheerful music. Rich and glossy curls Were bound with roses, and her sparkling eyes Gleamed like Thalia's, when some quick device Of mirth is in her laugh. Her light step seemed Bounding upon the air with all the life, The buoyant life of one untouched by sorrow. - - - - - - There was another, drawn in after years: The face was young still; but its happy look Was gone, the cheek had lost its colour, and The lip its smile,—the light that once had played Like sunshine in those eyes, was quenched and dim, For tears had wasted it: her long dark hair Floated upon her forehead in loose waves Unbraided, and upon her pale thin hand Her head was bent, as if in pain,—no trace Was left of that sweet gaiety which once Seemed as grief could not darken it, as care Would pass and leave behind no memory. - - - There was one whom she loved undoubtingly, As youth will ever love,—he sought her smile, And said most gentle things, although he knew Another had his vows.—Oh! there are some Can trifle, in cold vanity, with all The warm soul's precious throbs, to whom it is A triumph that a fond devoted heart Is breaking for them,—who can bear to call Young flowers into beauty, and then crush them! Affections trampled on, and hopes destroyed, Tears wrung from very bitterness, and sighs That waste the breath of life,—these all were her's Whose image is before me. She had given Life's hope to a most fragile bark, to love! ’Twas wrecked—wrecked by love's treachery: she knew, Yet spoke not of his falsehood; but the charm That bound her to existence was dispelled— Her days were numbered;— She is sleeping now. L. E. L.