Felicia Hemans

“ And swell of breathing turf, whose lightsome spring
Their blooms recall.
Lilian (raising herself.) Is that my Jessy's voice?
It woke me not, sweet mother! I had lain
Silently, visited by waking dreams,
Yet conscious of thy brooding watchfulness,
Long ere I heard the sound. Hath she brought flowers?
Nay, fear not now thy fond child's waywardness,
My thoughtful mother!—in her chasten'd soul
The passion-colour'd images of life,
Which, with their sudden startling flush awoke
So oft those burning tears, have died away ”

“ Of holiest thought—nor needs their fresh bright sod,
Urn, wreath, or shrine, for tombs all dedicate to God.
Christ hath arisen!—oh! mountain peaks, attest,
Witness, resounding glen, and torrent wave,
The immortal courage in the human breast
Sprung from that victory—tell how oft the brave
⁠To camp 'midst rock and cave,
Nerved by those words, their struggling faith have borne,
Planting the Cross on high above the clouds of morn. ”

“ Of many fountains, low and musical,
By day unheard.
Mother.⁠And wherefore Night, my child?
Thou art a creature all of life and dawn,
And from thy couch of sickness yet shall rise,
And walk forth with the day-spring. ”

“ To Thee may Sorrow thro' each conflict cry,
And, in that tempest-hour when Love and Life
⁠Mysteriously must part,
⁠When tearful eyes
⁠Are passionately bent
To drink Earth's last fond meaning from our gaze ”

“ Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 34, Pages 859-860
V.
FAR O'ER THE SEA.
Where are the vintage-songs
Wandering in glee?
Where dance the peasants-bands
Joyous and free?
Under a kind blue sky,
Where doth my birth-place lie?
—Far o'er the sea!
Where floats the myrtle-scent
O'er vale and lea,
When evening calls the dove
Homewards to flee?
Where doth the orange gleam
Soft on my native stream?
—Far o'er the sea!
Where; are sweet eyes of Love
Watching for me? ”

“ A wild, sad forest-hymn—a song of tears,
Which thou wilt learn to love. I heard the boy
Chanting it o'er his solitary task,
As wails a wood-bird to the thrilling leaves,
Perchance unconsciously. ”

“ Where the snows glisten, the mountain rills foam,
Free as the falcon's wing, yet shall we roam.
Where the hearth shines, where the kind looks are met,
Where the smiles mingle, our place shall be yet! ”

“ Hath, 'midst the flowery sods, been pillow'd here
Without a hope, (howe'er the heart hath bled
In its vain yearnings o'er the unconscious bier,)
⁠A hope, upspringing clear
From those majestic tidings of the morn,
Which lit the living way to all of woman born.
Thou hast wept mournfully, oh, human Love! ”

“ Peace in thy saddest hour, my Love!
Dwelt on thy brow;
But something mournfully divine
There shineth now:
And silent ever is thy lip,
And pale thy cheek:—
Oh! art thou Earth's, or art thou Heaven's? ”

“ Seems mournfully to wander past,
A wild, shrill, wailing tone!
Haunt me no more! for slavery's air
Thy proud notes were not born;
The dream but deepens my despair—
Be hush'd, thou Alpine Horn! ”

“ Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 34, Page 859
IV.
I DREAM OF ALL THINGS FREE.
I dream of all things free!
Of a gallant, gallant bark
That sweeps through storm and sea,
Like an arrow to its mark! ”

“ On rock, on herb, and flower. And be it so!
They do not wisely that, with hurried hand,
Would pluck these salutary fancies forth
From their strong soil within the Peasant's breast,
And scatter them—far, far too fast!—away
As worthless weeds:—Oh! little do we know
When they have soothed, when saved! ”

“ Oft again!
Or if still around my hearth ye linger
Yet, sweet voices! There must change have come!
Years have quell'd the free soul of the singer,
Vernal tones shall greet the wanderer home,
Ne'er again! ”

“ Apartment in an English Country-House.—Lilian reclining, as sleeping, on a couch. Her Mother watching beside her. Her Sister enters with flowers.
Mother. Hush, lightly tread! still tranquilly she sleeps,
As, when a babe, I rock'd her on my heart.
I've watch'd, suspending ev'n my breath, in fear
To break the heavenly spell. Move silently! ”

“ To breathe of hope and liberty,
From hearts that inly died.
So met the sons of many lands,
Parted by mount and main,
So did they sing in brotherhood,
Made kindred by the chain.
↑
* These songs (with the exception of the fifth,) have been set to music by the author's sister, and are in the possession of Messrs Willis and Co. ”