XII. And say to Robert a kind word, and tell him not to fret; There's many worthier than I, would make him happy yet. If I had lived—I cannot tell I might have been his wife; But all these things have ceased to be, with my desire of life. XIII. O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in a glow; He shines upon a hundred fields, and all of them I know. And there I move no longer now, and there his light Wild flowers in the valley for other hands than mine. XIV. O sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this day is done The voice, that now is speaking, may be beyond the sun For ever and for ever with those just souls and true — And what is life, that we should moan? why make we such ado? XV. For ever and for ever, all in a blessed home And there to wait a little while till you and Effie come To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your breast And the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. THE LOTOS-EATERS. I. "COURAGE!" he said, and pointed toward the land, All round the coast the languid air did swoon, II. A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke, Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go; And some thro' wavering lights and shadows brokę, Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below. They saw the gleaming river seaward flow From the inner land: far off, three mountain-tops, Stood sunset-flush'd: and, dew'd with showery drops, III. The charmed sunset linger'd low adown In the red West: thro' mountain clefts the dale Was seen far inland, and the yellow down A land where all things always seem'd the same! The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came. IV. Branches they bore of that enchanted stem, To each, but whoso did receive of them, On alien shores; and if his fellow spake, His voice was thin, as voices from the grave; And music in his ears his beating heart did make. V. They sat them down upon the yellow sand, Is far beyond the wave; we will no longer roam." |