Page:The poetical works of Thomas Campbell.djvu/159
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IX.
But shame—but flight—a recreant's name to prove,
To hide in exile ignominious fears;
Say, ev'n if this I brooked, the public love
Thy father's bosom to his home endears:
And how could I his few remaining years,
My Gertrude, sever from so dear a child?"
So, day by day, her boding heart he cheers:
At last that heart to hope is half beguiled,
And, pale through tears suppressed, the mournful beauty smiled.
But shame—but flight—a recreant's name to prove,
To hide in exile ignominious fears;
Say, ev'n if this I brooked, the public love
Thy father's bosom to his home endears:
And how could I his few remaining years,
My Gertrude, sever from so dear a child?"
So, day by day, her boding heart he cheers:
At last that heart to hope is half beguiled,
And, pale through tears suppressed, the mournful beauty smiled.
X.
Night came,—and in their lighted bower, full late,
The joy of converse had endured—when, hark!
Abrupt and loud, a summons shook their gate;
And heedless of the dog's obstrep'rous bark,
A form had rushed amidst them from the dark.
And spread his arms,—and fell upon the floor:
Of aged strength his limbs retained the mark;
But desolate he looked, and famished poor,
As ever shipwrecked wretch lone left on desert shore.
Night came,—and in their lighted bower, full late,
The joy of converse had endured—when, hark!
Abrupt and loud, a summons shook their gate;
And heedless of the dog's obstrep'rous bark,
A form had rushed amidst them from the dark.
And spread his arms,—and fell upon the floor:
Of aged strength his limbs retained the mark;
But desolate he looked, and famished poor,
As ever shipwrecked wretch lone left on desert shore.
XI.
Uprisen, each wond'ring brow is knit and arched :
A spirit from the dead they deem him first:
To speak he tries; but quivering, pale, and parched.
From lips, as by some powerless dream accursed.
Emotions unintelligible burst;
And long his filmed eye is red and dim;
At length the pity-proffered cup his thirst.
Had half assuaged, and nerved his shuddering limb,
When Albert's hand he grasped;—but Albert knew not him—
Uprisen, each wond'ring brow is knit and arched :
A spirit from the dead they deem him first:
To speak he tries; but quivering, pale, and parched.
From lips, as by some powerless dream accursed.
Emotions unintelligible burst;
And long his filmed eye is red and dim;
At length the pity-proffered cup his thirst.
Had half assuaged, and nerved his shuddering limb,
When Albert's hand he grasped;—but Albert knew not him—