THE VAUDOIS WIFE. I bless thee for kind looks and words Shower'd on my path like dew, For all the love in those deep eyes A gladness ever new! For the voice which ne'er to mine replied For every spring of happiness I bless thee for the last rich boon The right to gaze on death with thee, And yet more for the glorious hope Even to these moments given Did not thy spirit ever lift The trust of mine to Heaven? Now be thou strong? Oh! knew we not A shadow and a trembling still Were mingled with our bliss! We plighted our young hearts when storms In full, deep knowledge of their task Be strong! I leave the living voice 49 A spirit 'midst the caves to dwell, To rouse the valiant from repose, Hear it, and bear thou on, my love! Our mountains must be altars yet, There must our God be worshipp'd still With the worship of the freeFarewell! there's but one pang in death, One only,―leaving thee! My battle-vow!-no minster walls Nor cross nor shrine the low deep tone Of smother'd vengeance heard; But the ashes of a ruin'd home Thrill'd as it sternly rose, With the mingling voice of blood that shook The midnight's dark repose. THE GUERILLA LEADER'S vow. The roof-tree fall'n, the smouldering floor, The bright hair torn, and soil'd with blood, Bore witness that wild night; The stars, the searching stars of heaven, With keen looks would upbraid, If from my heart the fiery vow, Sear'd on it then, could fade. They have no cause!-Go, ask the streams The red waves that unstain'd were born- And other eyes are on my soul, The sad, sweet glances of the lost- 51 Haunting my night-watch 'midst the rocks, Alas! the mountain eagle's heart, He seeks another nest. But I-your soft looks wake the thirst Ye drive me back, my beautiful! THE RETURN. "HAST thou come with the heart of thy childhood back? The free, the pure, the kind?” -So murmur'd the trees in my homeward track, As they play'd to the mountain-wind. "Hath thy soul been true to its early love?" Whisper'd my native streams; "Hath the spirit nursed amidst hill and grove, Still revered its first high dreams?” "Hast thou borne in thy bosom the holy prayer Of the child in his parent-halls?" -Thus breathed a voice on the thrilling air, THE RETURN. "Hast thou kept thy faith with the faithful dead, Whose place of rest is nigh? With the father's blessing o'er thee shed, With the mother's trusting eye?" -Then my tears gush'd forth in sudden rain, I bring not my childhood's heart again "I have turned from my first pure love aside, O bright and happy streams! Light after light, in my soul have died The day-spring's glorious dreams. 53 "And the holy prayer from my thoughts hath pass'd— The prayer at my mother's knee; Darken'd and troubled I come at last, Home of my boyish glee! "But I bear from my childhood a gift of tears, To soften and atone; And oh! ye scenes of those blessed years, They shall make me again your own." 5* 7 |