Letitia Elizabeth Landon

“ Oh! Love can take
What shape he pleases, and when once begun
His fiery inroad in the soul, how vain
The after knowledge which his presence gives:
We weep or rave, but still he lives,—he lives
Master and lord, 'midst pride and tears and pain. ”

“ The curse of change to earthly things;—
The flower fades, the green leaf dies,
A cloud steals over April skies,—
Tides turn their course, stars fall, winds range,
But more than all these, love will change. ”

“ The forehead's height of mountain snow.
But he has left his train behind,—
A lover's step is on the wind;—
And he is by the maiden's side,
Whose eye is drooped, as if to hide
How joy has lighted it ”

“ That deep and lonely faith which bears
With chance, and change, and lapse of years;
Turns like the floweret to the sun,
Content with being shone upon;
Although its gift of light and air
The meanest with itself may share. ”

“ Tell me not Raymond will recall
His peasant love in lighted hall:
When the rich Eastern gems look dim
By the bright eyes that smile for him.
Go share, as man will ever share,
In love's delight, but not love's care ”

“ He took a gold chain from his neck,—
Such chains the fair Venetians deck,—
And threw it round her—"See how slight
The fragile links that here unite.
Yet try, Christine, and all in vain,—
You cannot break the slender chain ”