Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/188

184 So bitterly came knowledge to a heart All radiant with purity and love. And thrilling with wild music—like a harp Just touched in heaven and sent, quivering With its unutterable melody, to earth.


 * The starry influence of the shining night,

And the low murmur of the passing waves, Soothed, like a blessing, the wild, aching grief Of the sweet, desolate mourner.Tenderly The starlight stole to kiss her pallid brow, The trees reached down their arms caressingly. And the bright river bade her not to grief In tones of gentleness untaught by art. The beautiful love shattered so cruelly By earthy fingers, here seemed proffered her By the sweet angel-spirits of the night. Pale, placid, and subdued, the young girl rose— Her sweet face lifted to the sapphire sky, And her dark, mournful eyes surpassing thought In their deep, pleading eloquence, upraised— And softly folding her white, slender hands Upon her weary bosom, prayed for peace!

Break not! break not! break not, O mighty heart,
 * With this fierce anguish rending all thy strings!

Back! agonizing fires which from it start,
 * Ere this wild torture which my spirit wrings.

Shows itself on my brow or in my eye—
 * Back! back! into my heart! ye may burn there

Till every feeling doth in ashes lie,
 * But not a trace of pain my brow shall wear!

To find her false! oh, anguish unexpressed!
 * Be still, proud heart, be still! when will this burst