Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/103

Rh Softly bright, or wildly glaring,

Let my soul-ﬁres ever shine,

Full of passion high and daring,

Or the warm, soft radiance wearing

That is given for a sign

That the soul within is lighted

At some holy angel-shrine;

But let not the senseless coldness

Of a withered heart be mine.

THE TALISMAN.

would ye give, ye triflers, say,

Young men and maidens, what would ye

Bestow to know the mystery

Of what an angel said to me—

An angel said to me one day?

Ah, dark and heavy was my soul!

Once had it been all gay and light,

And fearing not the coming blight,

Had perched itself on pleasure's height,

And writ its name on pleasure's scroll.

But soon, too soon, a change o'ercame

My spirit, and my heart was broke—

Was broke and bowed beneath the yoke

Of grief too sacred to be spoke,

Yet eating out my soul like ﬂame.

Then, to my side an angel stole—

An angel with bright shining hair,

And sweet young face divinely fair—

Speaking with voice more soft and rare

Than music's most voluptuous roll.