HAVE caught the last wave of his snow-white plume, I have heard the last sound of his horse's feet,- I should not weep thus if thou wert gone 204 THE FORSAKEN. Or if I wept, my tears would be Thou wert wont to part, my scarf on thine arm, I could pray, and believe that thy maiden's prayer But now thou art gone to the festival, In the courtly beauty's shining bower Little thou'lt think of thine own wild flower. Thou wilt join in the midnight saraband, With thy graceful smile and thy whisper bland; All thou once wert to only me. I might have known what would be my share- I might have known my woman's part A faded cheek and a rifled heart. Often I'd read in the minstrel tale How bright eyes grow dim, and red lips pale; And must this be?-oh, heart of mine! Again I will wreathe my raven hair With the red-rose flowers it was wont to wear; THE FORSAKEN. Again I will enter my father's hall Again be the gayest and gladdest of all; Like the falcon that soars at her highest bound, But what boots it to teach my heart a task Broken, with only ruins to hide, Will a smile bring back to my lip its red, No! I will away to my solitude, And hang my head in my darkened mood; Unknown, unwept,-and thus will I die! Farewell! farewell! I have but one prayer- Forget me; I would not have thee know Of the youth and bloom thy falseness laid low; L. E. L. 205 |