A FAREWELL. λιποῦσα δ' Εὐρώπης πέδον, Ἤπειρον ἥξεις Ασίδ'. ἆς ὑμῖν δοκεῖ ὁ τῶν θεῶν τύραννος εἰς τὰ πάνθ' ὁμῶς βίαιος εἶναι ; ESCH. Prom. Vinct. THEY told me thou wilt pass again Across the echoing wave; And, though thou canst not break the chain, Thou wilt forget the slave. Farewell, farewell!-thou wilt not know My hopes or fears, my weal or woe, My home-perhaps my grave! Nor think nor dream of the sad heart The goblet went untasted by Since thou didst prize my love or song, My lot was all unblest: I cannot now be more forlorn, Nor bear aught that I have not borne. We might not meet; for me no more Arose that melting tone; The eyes which colder crowds adore The coxcomb's prate, the ruffian's lies, But it was something still to know And still the shadowy hope was rife My path might cross with thine, And oft in crowds I might rejoice To hear thy uttered name, Though haply from an unknown voice The welcome echo came: How coldly would I shape reply, Or That none might doubt or blame, guess that idle theme could be A mine of after-thought to me. Oh ne'er again!-thou wilt abide One whom thou lovest by thy side, And those sweet fairies, with their wiles I would not cloud such scene and lot Yet, if thou wilt remember one Thy light is lingering yet, A star before the darkened soul, Be mine the talk of men, though thou brow Be mine the wreath, though for my Though in my triumph's sunniest thrill VOL. I. S Perchance, when long long years are o'er I care not how they flow Some note of me to that far shore And thou wilt read, and turn to hide What spell inspired the silent toil And this is little, to atone For much of grief and wrong; But it is past! thy bliss or pain AN EXCUSE. BLAME not the Minstrel's wayward will: If he should bid the golden string Sad Memory from her cell would bring The dream of her, whose broken chain Than new forged bonds is far more dear; Whose name he may not speak again, And shudders but to hear. |