LOVE'S MISERIES

I

OH, how I love thee, how I hate thee,

Often wish thee far away,

And endeavour day by day,

To teach, and charge my heart most straitly That my love is gone for aye.

II

My heart's emotions beat not even
In their palpitating walls;

When thy deep voice gently calls
My name in love, 'tis taste of heaven
That thy presence here forestalls.

III

But when I watch thine eyes all roving
O'er the charms of ev'ry fair;

Like the bee who here and there

Is constant changing, always moving,

Kissing flow'rets ev'rywhere.

R

IV

And I can see new passion gleaming

In thy face, but not for me,

Naught am I just then to thee;

Then straightway thousand torments teeming, Gather round tumultuously.

V

High throbs my heart, but not with gladness, Moved with pain I know so well,

Filled with hate I cannot quell,

And all the tumult, and the madness
Make it feel a very hell.

VI

Then a weary feeling follows,

And the joy my heart had known

Into black despair is grown,

Full darker than the darkest hollows,

Where the sun no ray hath thrown.

VII

Ah me, the agony of keeping

Outward calm the livelong night, While its balm hath taken flight, Oh, how my heavy eyes still weeping Gladly welcome morning light!

VIII

As limpid spring to parched wayfarer Panting in the wilderness,

So the kisses thou dost press, And love of which thou art the bearer Give new life in one caress.

IX

Impetuous as the torrent's motion

Towards the vast unbounded sea,

Dashing by each rock, and tree; Such is now my soul's devotion;

Wrapped in thee eternally.

THE IRISH MAIDEN'S ADIEU

ON LEAVING ENGLAND

I

WHEN other friends around thee smile

Whom thou hast known for long,

Give one stray thought to her, meanwhile
Who cheered thee with her song,

II

And warbled forth her simple strains

Of chivalry and mirth;

Whose echo only now remains

To hover round thy hearth.

III

But even shadowy echoes bring
The sweetest recollection,

And Fancy oft will faintly sing

Songs of a rare collection.

IV

And I will conjure in my mind

Sweet thoughts of Love, and Thee, And music soft, in one combined;

Love's surest, truest key,

V

And carry back to Erin's shore

A new and thrilling theme,

Wherewith to warble out once more

The melody I dream.

VI

And as the lark 'twixt earth and heaven

Doth trill its joyous song,

So from my inmost soul are given

Its breathings all day long.

VII

Thus full of happy thought I'll go

Bright as the gladsome day,

And as the streamlet loves to flow

Make music all the way.