Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/190

186 Bright dreams and lovely visions, ye are gone!
 * My once high heart lies burnt upon your shrine!

Oh, mockery! that I should deem that one
 * Of truth and purity could e'er be mine!

Ah! glorious aspirations, where are ye?
 * Oh, radiant hopes and blest, where have ye flown?

Oh, heart! most mighty heart, once proud and free?
 * Oh, starry dream of love? all gone! all gone!

A dumb, cold, aching hollow is your grave—
 * No beautiful emotion there doth dwell!

The holiest, highest love that man e'er gave
 * I lost when I lost thee, oh, false Adel!

But shall I mourn thee or thy treachery?
 * Am I a woman to bewail my fate?

Shall I sigh over this great misery,
 * And of my sorrow piteously prate?

No! every tone shall freeze like dropping ice,
 * And she shall shrink from my cold, steady eye,

And dainty scorn ray chosen words shall spice,
 * While mockery upon my lip doth lie!"


 * Gorgeous and glowing, from the silver lamp

Depending from the ceiling, fell the light Over the luxury of that rich room, Deepening the roses blooming in the tuft Of the soft, yielding carpet—lighting up With golden glory the emblazoned names Glittering o'er the array of rare, choice books On the dark, polished shelves—kissing the brows Of lovely statues, smiling from each niche Most gloriously like life—and lingering Over rich paintings and bright, perfumed flowers Drooping in antique vases—glowingly The soft light flooded the magnificent scene. Beneath the sparkling lamp the speaker stood; The fatal missive of the gentle girl