HELEN. HIGH-BORN Helen, round your dwelling High-born Helen, proudly telling These twenty years I've lived on tears, On sighs I've fed, your scorn my bread; Can I, who loved my beloved But for the scorn " was in her eye," Can I be moved for my beloved, When she "returns me sigh for sigh?” In stately pride, by my bed-side, High-born Helen's portrait's hung; Deaf to my praise, my mournful lays Are nightly to the portrait sung. To that I weep, nor ever sleep, Complaining all night long to herHelen, grown old, no longer cold, Said, .. you to all men I prefer.” A VISION OF REPENTANCE. I SAW à famous fountain, in my dream, And all around the fountain brink were spread Wide branching trees, with dark green leaf rich clad, Forming a doubtful twilight-desolate and sad The place was such, that whoso enter'd in, A most strange calm stole o'er my soothed sprite; Long time I stood, and longer had I staid, When, lo! I saw, saw by the sweet moon-light, Which came in silence o'er that silent shade, Where, near the fountain, SOMETHING like DESPAIR Made, of that weeping willow, garlands for her hair. And eke with painful fingers she inwove Many an uncouth stem of savage thorn"The willow garland, that was for her love, And these her bleeding temples would adorn." With sighs her heart nigh burst, salt tears fast fell, As mournfully she bended o'er that sacred well. To whom when I addrest myself to speak, She lifted up her eyes, and nothing said; The delicate red came mantling o'er her cheek, And, gath'ring up her loose attire, she fled To the dark covert of that woody shade, And in her goings seem'd a timid gentle maid. Revolving in my mind what this should mean, When from the shades came slow a small and plaintive sound. "PSYCHE am I, who love to dwell Till now, to pry upon my shame. At thy feet what thou dost see If haply so my day of grace Be not yet past; and this lone place, 66 Why dost thou weep, thou gentle maid! And wherefore in this barren shade Thy hidden thoughts with sorrow feed? "O! I have done a deed of shame, "And who the promised spouse, declare: And what those bridal garments were." |