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A Love Story by A Bushman
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A word from our supporters: File extension IDX | Clarendon read aloud his first contribution--who knows it not? The very words form a music, and that music is Metastasio's, Se trovi il caro oggetto, Digli che sei sospiro Ma non gli dir di chi, Limpido ruscelletto, Se mai t'incontri in lei, Digli che pianto sei, Ma non le dir qual' eiglio Crescer ti fe cosi." "And now, Emily! for my parting tribute--if I remember right, it was sorrowful enough." Gage read, with tremulous voice, the following, which we will christen THE FAREWELL.That carols to the rising morn,-- I'd rather be some plaintive bird Lulling night's ear forlorn. Mingling 'midst thousand leaves and flowers That shed their fairy charms around To deck Spring's joyous bowers. Waving 'midst Autumn's sombre groves:-- On the heart to breathe that sadness Which contemplation loves. Dancing upon the river's crest, All light, all motion, when the stream Turns to the sun her breast. Lengthening as eve comes stealing on, And rest in pensive sadness there, When those bright rays are gone. Upon thy coral lip, and shed Around it sweetness, like the sun Risen from his crimson bed. In pity from that eye of blue, Making the cheek more lovely red, Like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew. Mirth shall her pageant joys impart,-- A dream to sparkle in thine eye, Yet vanish from thy heart. When thoughts, half pain, half pleasure, steal Upon the heart, and memory doth The shadowy past reveal. Too sweet, too pure, to feel again,-- And long lost hours, scenes, friends, return, Remember me, love--then! "Ah, Clarendon! how often have I read those lines, and thought--but I will not think now! Here come the letters! Henry will soon be busy--I shall finish my drawing--and aunt will finish--no! she never _can_ finish her tambour work. Take my portfolio and give me another contribution!" Gage now wrote "The Return," which we insert for the reader's approval:-- THE RETURN.Over the soft hill's verdant steep, Lighting up its shadows deep, I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ Her grateful song to Nature's King, Making all the woodlands ring, I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ Shall mourn her mate in some lone dell, And to the night her sorrows tell, I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ Shall promise of the summer bring, And all around its fragrance fling, I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ And winter spread its icy pall, To mind me of the death of all, I'll think of thee, love, _then!_ Is dancing on the river's spray, And sunshine gilds the joyous day, I'll think of thee, love, _then_! Lengthening as life's sun goes down, Like sweetest constancy alone, I'll think of thee, love, _then_! On coral lips, like Phoebus' ray, Making all look warm and gay, I'll think of thee, love, _then_! O'er a cheek, whose crimson hue Looks like rose-leaf dipp'd in dew, I'll think of thee, love, _then_! The gloomy spells that chain my mind, And make me dream of all that's kind, I'll think of thee, love, _then_! |