'Say, canst thou woo another for thy bride, Whilst I am living--ever near thee still! Renounce the faith so often pledged to me, Forget me, while I dream of thee in heaven! When the word _love_ first fell upon my ear, I was a dreamer wrapped in pleasant thoughts, Dwelling in themes apart from common life, Nor needed aught for bliss save my still hours, My studies, and the poet's golden lyre. The stars revealed to me their trackless paths, The flowers whispered me their secrets sweet, And science oped her ways of calm and light. Yet love, like ancient scroll, was closely rolled; I had no wish to read its mystic page; Its wooing wakened in me wondering scorn, Its homage insult to my virgin pride; If lovers knelt, 'twas but to be denied. And yet it pleased to know myself so fair, Because I loved the Beautiful. We met! Dark, fierce, and full of power thy features were, Yet finely cut, chiselled and sculptured well, Reminding me of antique demigod. The dream of the wild Greek, maddened with light From Beauty's sun, before me living stood. Ah! not of marble were thy features pale! Like summer's lightning, lights and shadows danced As feelings surged within thy stormful soul. Full of high thoughts and poetry wert thou: I left the paths of thought to hear thee speak Of love and its devotion, endless truth. All nature glowed with sudden, roseate light; The waves of ocean, mountains, forests dim, The waterfall, the flower, the clinging moss, Were woven in types of purity and peace, To etherealize and beautify thy love. Marriage of souls, eternal constancy, Gave wildering love new worth and dignity. My maiden pride was soothed, and if I felt Repelled by human passion, still I joyed In sacrifice that made me wholly thine. We wedded--and I rested on thy heart, Counted its throbs, and when I sadly thought They measured out the fleeting sands of life, I smiled at Time--_Love lives eternally!_ I was not blind to my advantages, Yet I became a humble household dove, Smoothing to thy caress the eager wings Which might have borne me through the universe. All wealth seemed naught; had stars been in my gift, I would have thrown them reckless all to thee! Two happy years--how swift they fleeted by!-- And then I felt a fluttering, restless life Throbbing beneath my heart; and with it knew (I ne'er could tell you how such knowledge came) That I must die! A moment's dread and pang O'ercame me--then the bitter thought grew sweet: My passing agony would win the boon Of life immortal for _our_ infant's soul; The innocent being, through whose veins would flow Our mingling hearts for ever--ever--one! We spoke of death, and of eternal life; Many and fond the vows then pledged to me: 'If cruel death must sever us on earth,