Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1822.pdf/93

92 Literary Gazette, 7th December, 1822, Pages 775–776 (cont.) And when uprose the bright-eyed moon,

I sorrowed, day was done so soon;

Save that I loved the sweet starlight,

The soft, the happy sleep of night!

Time has changed since, and I have wept

The day away; and when I slept,

My sleeping eyes ceased not their tears;

And jealousies, griefs, hopes, and fears

Even in slumber held their reign,

And gnawed my heart, and racked my brain!

Oh much,—most withering 'tis to feel

The hours like guilty creatures steal,

To wish the weary day was past,

And yet to have no hope at last!

All's in that curse, aught else above

That fell on me—betrayed love! - - -

There was a stranger sought our land,

A youth, who with a painter's hand

Traced our sweet valleys and our vines,

The moonlight on the ruined shrines,

And now and then the brow of pearl

And black eyes of the peasant girl:

We met and loved—ah, even now

My pulse throbs to recall that vow!

Our first kiss sealed, we stood beneath

The cypress-tree's funereal wreath,

That temple's roof. But what thought I

Of aught like evil augury!

I only felt his burning sighs,

I only looked within his eyes,

I saw no dooming star above,

There is such happiness in love!

I left, with him, my native shore,

Not as a bride who passes o'er

Her father's threshold with his blessing,

With flowers strewn and friends caressing,

Kind words, and purest hopes to cheer

The bashfulness of maiden fear;