LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ?S^ - Chap._j_~__. Copyright Xo. Shelf_Jk*$S UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The Shrine of Love The everlasting hills that rise, And streams that murmur music's strain Shall say, 'How sweet is she.' " — Loyk's Tribute, Pg. 107. The Shrine of Love and Other Poems Lucien V. Rule » PRINTED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HERBERT S. STONE £r COMPANY CHICAGO &- NEW YORK MDCCCXCVIII COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY LUCIEN V. RULE \\ fr'l Contents A DEDICATION DEDICATION OF THE SHRINE OF LOVE THE SHRINE OF LOVE Page V VII PART FIRST. " SECOND. " THIRD. " FOURTH. " FIFTH. " SIXTH. u SEVENTH. "THE STORY OF A FAITHLESS IDEAL" "THE DAWNING OF A TRUER LOVE" "A CRUCIAL TEST" 4 ' THE WAYS OF LOVE " "WHEN ALL LOVE'S HOPE HAS FALLEN" " SEPARATION" 'through trials to trust supreme" ' * eighth. ' ' love unspeakable at last" lyrics of love the greek crisis lyrics of liberty the cause of cuba America's answer on reported french enmity to america why should she now be spared ? 13 21 28 45 55 73 8o 85 109 115 119 127 129 131 A Dedication O lonely lives in whose sad sky No star of hope now softly beams; Who sit in endless night, and sigh For lovers glad dawn that never gleams, It is for you, for you, I seek ! lonely lives that never share The solace of a sweet caress ; Who love and hunger to despair, But win no word of kindliness ; In your behalf my soul would speak ! O lonely lives that firmly kept Affection's faith through every fate ; But saw at last your rapture swept By wildest storms that desolate ; For you, for you, my breast doth bleed I lonely hearts that nobly built In hopeful faith a holy shrine ; But soon beheld the traitorous guilt Of the dear idol deemed divine ; 1 fully know your awful need! lonely souls that loved and longed, As only lofty souls can do ; But stood at last betrayed and wronged By just the frie7id ye thought was true ; Let these my lines yotir solace be ! O lonely lives so sadly dazed, And blinded by dear hope's defeat ; O weary ones whose eyes are raised To find a shelter from life's heat, Receive, receive these so?igs from me! Dedication of The Shrine of Love In the still night-time of obscurity I have been building in my boundless love A shrine aspiring toward the stars above ; And wonder if at dawn its form will be Aladdin-like and fair for all to see; That I may say to her whom I adore, "Behold a temple in which evermore This happy heart of mine shall worship thee ; And show thy soul to lovers everywhere ! " But if it prove an humble edifice, Unnoticed by the world, a soothing thought Shall still reward me for my ceaseless care, And weary time of waiting, and 'tis this — "O Sweet, for love of thee the work was wrought ! " The Shrine of Love PART FIRST The Story of a Faithless Ideal " ' Tis But a Simple Bird I See." Sweetheart, 'tis but a simple bird I see, Beneath the broad and spacious summer skies ; Yet in its gentle bosom I surmise A wondrous wealth of tenderness to be. And few the notes that make its melody, Uttered in such a winsome, artless wise ; But where the mate that hears those accents rise Could ill esteem their tender, plaintive plea? Crude is the phrase in which my heart makes known The deep affection it has cherished long ; Yet sweet as balm by April breezes blown Its meaning is ; nor bard's immortal song Could tell the story of a love more true Though it should sound earth's wide dominions through ! THE SHRINE OF LOVE "How Sweet Thy Beauty Is." Can it be true thou dost not care nor know How pure and sweet thy beauty is to me? That with thee near 'tis like the jubilee Of spring, when all her kindly breezes blow, When coursing sylvan streams melodious flow, And each glad bird has won its chosen mate ; That when afar thou art, though desolate The days and all the fields, a tender glow Lives in my heart, if but one word or smile Of thine in some sweet interval I gain? Ah, if thy every glance can so beguile All gloom, and unto nobler being thrill My soul, dear maiden, is my longing vain That wooest the blessing of thy beauty still? °k "True Souls in Love" True souls in love are mild as any breeze The sunniest day in summer's season hath ; But ah, when roused by wrong to righteous wrath, The words they speak are like the surging seas That wildly thunder forth their melodies Along the shore ; and though they may relent From sternness ; yet, alas, the wound that went To the heart's core cannot be healed with ease. It is no idle thing to coldly sneer, And hold aloof from them with high hauteur, When at love's altar they sincerely bow ; For she who scorns will soon discover how The heavenliest love is fierce as fiendish hate When wronged, abandoned, and left desolate! 2 THE STORY OF A FAITHLESS IDEAL "Thou hast no Heart.'' What is thy claim to lofty character, That thou shouldst scornful unto others be? There is no trait of nobleness in thee ; For if thy thoughts would only once recur To thy small deeds, it were enough to stir A stolid soul to shame ! Thou hast no heart ; So centred in thy petty self thou art, That 'tis delight to thee to cast a slur [fore. At humbler ones whom thou shouldst bow be- Blue-blooded ! Ah, the billows on the shore Are not more empty than thy boast ! 'Tis they Who live for love that win renown today ; And one pure-hearted pauper has more worth Than all the soulless kings that strut the earth ! "The Lack of Soul in Thee." Thou dost not e'en deserve to walk with these Thou scornest so ; for what are we unless Susceptible to simple kindliness? What profit all thy luxury and ease, Thy empty pleasure, and thy aim to please The throngs of wealth, when thou didst fail, to bless [press ! The one who loved thee more than words ex- 'Tis truth of soul that through the centuries Leads on the world to what it yet shall be. The noble-hearted need no loud display To call attention unto what they are ; But silent shine, like evening's beacon star; And all thy petty airs and proud array Show but the more the lack of soul in thee. THE SHRINE OF LOVE (She shows further that her selfish pursuit of empty pleasure has stifled the gentleness of heart and refinement of soul she at first possessed; and it sadly wounds his higher nature. ) °% " When She We Trusted is Remiss." No sorrow to the soul can e'er occur More sickening sad, than when at last we see The one we thought was lofty prove to be Unworthy. Then wild anguish seems to stir The very stars, and all the skies to blur. Affection in the shattered idol seeks Just one redeeming thing, but Honor speaks : "There is no truth therein ; the traits that were So tender to thine eyes, are but deceit." There is no sweeping storm more harsh than this; No sorrow so resembling desert heat ; Nor wastes of ocean waters, where no bliss Of bird ascends to make the morning sweet — When she we trusted is, alas, remiss ! "I did not hold her Perfect" I did not hold her perfect, hence this stroke Of woe springs not from a few natural flaws ; But from the disregard of all love's laws ; And Heaven's sweet charity could never cloak Her cruel falseness now. When I awoke, And walked the streets thereafter, oh how sad Seemed even faces that were gay and glad ! Then from my lips harsh execrations broke ; 4 THE STORY OF A FAITHLESS IDEAL And I exclaimed, "If thus my fellows do, What profits it that I should still prove true?" But soon with yearning eyes, and hands up- raised, I vowed to still be noble. E'en though dazed, And blinded by the thought that she could treat My soul so ill, I trampled down deceit ! "Mine Outraged Feelings asked" Mine outraged feelings asked, "What is the use Of worthiness in me, when one so fair As she is formed, can cast aside all care For her high womanhood and so induce The blasting arrows of deserved abuse?" The sweetest creature under all the sun She seemed at first — my soul's anointed one ; But like a robber now who, by some ruse, Inspires, then wrongs and strips the heart, she seems. And though my every thought toward her was right, I feel from contact tainted in love's sight ; And cry aloud, "Oh that I had the might To turn my soul, which even yet esteems Her precious, unto eyes with kindlier gleams!" "Love is so Sovereign." Sometimes a sneer and harshly-mocking laugh Leap to my lips, and seem to say aloud, "Thou fool ! Thy spirit should be far too proud To bow to one who holds thy love but chaff ; Too lofty to submit, and meekly quaff 5 THE SHRINE OF LOVE The cup of servitude she offers thee. Stand forth again before her strong and free ! Let pity plead a while in her behalf, While thou dost seem devoid of all regard ; Then shall her heart relent, and be less hard!" But ah, I silent sit, and merely sigh. Love is so sovereign that, if I should try The cut of coldness to obtain release, Love would arouse at once, and bid me cease. °k "One Consolation lefty There is one consolation left with me : When love and time have softened what is sad, I'll take the hints of Heaven that once I had Through thee, and on them yet build tenderly The beauteous soul I thought thine own to be. I will forget the times when thou didst treat Me harshly, and revert to seasons sweet. There is no bliss to me in blaming thee ; For I already have enough to bear In the sad fall of what I hoped to share, Wronged was my pride, and blasted all my peace ; But I shall seek with Nature sweet release, And only think of thee with tenderness ; And after while mine anguish may be less. To Nature once more. Dear Nature, still thy scenes shall solace me, Though left by her who holds my life's warm love. The skies, still blue and beautiful above, 6 THE STORY OF A FAITHLESS IDEAL Seem listening to my soul's rejected plea ; The larks uplift their notes still tenderly To say that though her voice, once kind, refuse To cheer me now, amid the morning dews Their wakening music will but softer be. The breeze still meets me with its warm caress, Though her dear arms my life shall never bless ; Though her dear lips refuse their tender touch, The kisses of the sunbeams still hold much Of Heaven for me, and still the stars are sweet With light and love, untarnished by deceit. "I will not Blame the World" I will not blame the whole wide world when I Find thee unfaithful ; thou art only one ; And shall I say in haste that there are none With kindly hearts ; are none who nobly try To keep the laws of truth? My soul may sigh That thou wast faithless, and may never find Another who can just as sweetly bind Love's bonds about it ; but will not deny Itself unto all others ; 'twill receive With joy each friendly word that may relieve The wearing of its burden. Though I miss At morning, noon, and night thy loving kiss ; The anguish of its absence still may be A little lessened by each smile I see. A Stainless Soul still left. Life and a stainless soul are still with me, Though of all else I have been sadly robbed. 7 THE SHRINE OF LOVE Toward one I thought was constant sweetly throbbed This breast of mine, but ah, she proved to be Deceptive as the winds that sweep the sea ! I have been wronged, rejected and disdained ; But still the heights of heaven have I gained, And shown that e'en her scorn and treachery Shall spur me onward to more proudly win. Then will I rise, and from this hour begin With hope the course of my career once more. Twill make me gentler than I was before ; Because my breast was bruised, and made to bleed, I now can feel a fellow-creature's need. "There are Two Lives within." There are two lives within — one of the sky That lifts us to the lofty and the true, And yields us joy in everything we do. Another of the world, which doth defy, And oft defeat the first, though hard it try. Of these two lives thou hadst the choice be- tween — To serve the first whose pathways are serene, Or that whose sure result is sorrow's sigh. Alas, the latter thou didst take, and gone Forever is the glory that was thine ! When first we met, thou seemedst as the dawn Ascending into vernal day divine ; And love's sweet dew was on thy trembling lips; But ah, sad shadows now thy soul eclipse ! THE STORY OF A FAITHLESS IDEAL "Be still my Heart" Be still my heart; say nothing more to her; She is unworthy of thy notice now. When such as she, whom Nature doth endow With just the precious traits that we prefer Above all others, can so sadly blur, And blot life's page, in speechless grief we bow. Wild questionings within us clamor, "How Could she do thus?" and throbs of anguish stir The soul like some great storm that sweeps and roars Amid the forest, or on ocean's shores. But let her be ! When favored spirits fail, The crown of love is unto others given. Remorse, worse than thy grief, will soon assail Her, and like some lone bark shall she be driven ! " There is One Wound." There is one wound I would to heaven were Not left behind amid my shattered bliss. Far worse than fallen hopes it is, ah, this — Whene'er my soul hereafter shall recur To thee, alas, my lingering love will stir, And keep me even from a higher joy. O dearest, thou didst not alone destroy My happiness ; for if, a worshiper, To any other woman's shrine I went, And even won her willing soul's consent, This wound within me still would sadly start, And cry aloud, "Thou canst not give thy heart!" Alas, a two-fold crime is charged to thee — Wronging another one as well as me ! 9 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "Show me a Life" Show me a life that Truth cannot despise ; Show me a love unmixed with self desire ! Alas, men feign affection to acquire The object that awakes their treacherous eyes ! Pretenders to devotion's holy sighs, They are so heartless, shallow-souled, and stained, It were but justice should they be disdained, Till from their shameless waywardness they rise. But Honor's scorn is nothing in their sight ; And Love alone can lead them to the light. Each worthy heart enlisted in behalf Of higher things shall lift this wayward world Toward heights where heavenly banners are unfurled, And sin-parched souls of God's pure rills may quaff. °k "Like One without a Rudder on the Sea." Now am I in this weary world like one Who drifts without a rudder on the sea, And vainly lifts his eyes to find a lea Where fellow-creatures dwell, and toward the sun The birds ascend when daybreak is begun ; Thirsting a thousand leagues from where the streams With music gush to greet the morning gleams. I watch the days their weary circles run ; But looking to the boundless blue above, I vow to still keep holy life and love ; 10 THE STORY OF A FAITHLESS IDEAL And still have hope that I ere long shall learn The reason why our souls so often yearn, Yet when they seek the object of their joy, There is a Providence which doth destroy. Seeking his Soul's Counterpart. Men call me fanciful because my heart, Formed on the order of the nobler kind, Sighs for a maiden nature rare, refined, Created as mine own sweet counterpart. I've passed a myriad by whose beauty art Makes classic in productions wondrous fair, Since vainly I sought soul communion there. But I will wait, though disappointment's dart Should shatter every future hope to me. For ah, some blissful day new notes may claim This harp of mine, and skies be glad with gleams. For some true soul it may be mine to see, And love — a soul whose sweetness is the same I seek, though such now but celestial seems. A Wise Conclusion. O soul that seekest friendship's benison, Give to the winds all care for rank and pride ! Can ever empty social creeds decide Where thou canst find a truly noble one Worthy of thy dependence, and upon Whom thou canst place the jewel of thy love? Ah, rather know thy needs are all above Such petty circumscriptions, and that none Shall reach the sacred precincts of that shrine ii THE SHRINE OF LOVE Where mutual confidence unhindered springs, And thy most dearly treasured thoughts are told, Excepting one whose bosom beats with thine ; And none but such, though recognized by kings, And all the pomp of earth's imperial gold! 12 PART SECOND The Dawning of a Truer Love (Long afterward he meets another, who, while neither beautiful nor of proud social posi- tion, nevertheless possesses exceeding sweet- ness of heart, and refinement of soul. He is impressed with her, and there duly begins the dawning of a new affection within him. ) °k From the Old to the New. At first this olden love seemed everything That ardent fancy could conceive of fair ; But ah, too late I found were wanting there All tender traits to which my soul could cling. And after weary years of wandering, As sounds anew some warbler's wooing strain, Thy coming was: "But not so soon again," Said I, "shall love its sad deception bring." Yet ah ; as after one sweet bird sends out Its note, another and another starts Forth into singing all the forest through, Each beauty of thy nature 'mid my doubt, Aroused me to behold a heart of hearts Beyond my wildest dreams, divine and true ! 13 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "Afy Heart was like a Flower." Ah, dearest, this my heart was like a flower In some far forest's lonely solitude ; Unnurtured till the tender sunlight wooed It forth to share the summer song and shower. And since thy sweetness found me, every hour Has such a boon of heaven seemed to be, My soul would all affection's fragrancy Exhale to thee whose grace imbues with power Its strivings after nobleness divine. But ah, a sadness mingles with my bliss ! Sweet once to me was Beauty's slightest smile ; But now I've known this perfect love of thine; And should my rapture e'er be less than this, Earth's gold nor glory could my gloom beguile ! °% "O Soul Elixir, that ne'er satisfies ." When my warm heart was wont to yearning woo [deigned At Beauty's shrine for each slight smile she To give, I said, "Were glorious love but gained, The skies above would be forever blue !" But of this love, alas, I little knew ! Each summit of affection when attained, Though rapturous it seems, still leaves me pained, Another height near heaven looking to. O soul elixir that ne'er satisfies, Would all the notes of mating birds were mine, That in one flight of music, wild, and sweet, To sing my adoration I might rise ! And yet what strain of melody divine Could half the lover's bosom feels repeat? 14 " Some Lonely Solitude. THE DAWNING OF A TRUER LOVE •« Why say est Thou that I would Prove Untrue?" What say est thou that I would prove untrue, Should I this high renown I seek secure, And in the smiles of Beauty bask? Ah, sure Thou hast forgot how mine affection grew — First love's faint gleam, and then the glorious blue Of heaven when every cloud of doubt withdrew. Since Beauty, dearest, is but just the beam That biddeth gloom depart, and not the stream Of after radiance that doth so renew The soul ; then think 'st thou when my bosom yearned So long to find Affection's perfect light, 'T would with its semblance merely be content? If once the heart from thee to love has learned, 'Twill loyal be on glory's lofty height, 'Mid ail the arts of Beauty's blandishment. (He meets and addresses the old love ; rebuk- ing her scorn of him, and her unworthiness). "A Bitter Truth Thou wilt be Taught'* Since for society's flattery thou hast sought, I hope that thou hast had thy heart's content ; When for the fawnings of the opulent, A noble nature's love was set at naught. But ah, a bitter truth thou wilt be taught, When all these empty flatteries are spent, And thou rememberest him whose heart was rent, 15 THE SHRINE OF LOVE A love was offered thee that could have brought The laurels of a heroine of song, And made thy name an honor everywhere. But now they're given a worthier than thou art. Not unto those who do affection wrong Is sent renown ; or, if renown they share, 'Tis that of one who wounds a trusting heart. "The Records of Our Love." Ah, like the volume of some glorious bard That heavenward singing soared, then sadly fell, The records seem of our old love which tell A story that was sweet, but so ill-starred. While thou thyself canst heartlessly discard All that whereon dear memory used to dwell, I simply sigh, "Alas, perhaps 'tis well!" The poet's tender pages, not the hard, Unfeeling ones I find that I peruse ; And so upon each kindly word and tone Of thine it is my wont to only dwell, When rambling in the happy fields alone. But comes the thought, "How could she roughly use Devotion, and its every sign disown?" (To the later love again. ) He Rejoices in Her. Ah, thou didst come into my life more fair Than morning to the fields ; strong-souled and sweet ; Impulsive-hearted, but with all the heat 16 THE DAWNING OF A TRUER LOVE And haste of feeling calmed by wisdom's care ; One patient to endure the ceaseless wear Of this harsh world, yet free from all deceit ; One who will stand unmoved, when roughly beat Misfortune's storms. A being heavenly rare ; Not falsely proud; yet as refined and tiue As that high type of which the world has few — Not low in nature, but one who can love . Life's humbler things no less than things above, In stately halls — a soul which can inspire, And yet can satisfy my least desire. •=* '■'■Think not Thy Lover False" Think not thy lover false, when far from thee, He genial finds another's word and smile; For, oh, the world, which gloomy seemed the while Before thy kindness beamed, has come to be So radiant now, that he can even see A glory in the humblest flower that springs. And thou hast so attuned the harshest strings Of all his nature to the harmony Of thy dear heart, seraphically sweet ; That, though to him there's music everywhere, 'Tis but an echo of thy tender tone, Or thought, with wisdom's subtlest power re- plete ; Nor courtly throngs of all the earth's most fair Could make his homage other than thine own. 17 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "Of Thy High Trust no more be Un- aware. Of thy high trust no more be unaware, If dear its charge thou never yet hast deemed. For, ah, a noble, gifted soul that dreamed To find in Beauty all his fancies fair, Beheld them blasted as in empty air, Then walked the world in sadness, till there gleamed [streamed Love's light from thee; and now when it has To the clear splendor of the dawn, oh where Would solace spring, if this should ever wane? Incarnate evidence to him thou art That all his cherished dreams at last are true ; And since thy smile did bid to bloom again The blighted blossoms of his worthy heart, Keep for them still love's wooing warmth and dew. "Soul Love, and Love for Nature." Soul love and love for Nature are the same In character ; for, as dear Nature now Is fairer than when first she taught me how To strip of sordidness my life's high aim — Thy wondrous love, that with its solace came To my sad heart, has since but sweet increase Of rapture brought, and all-pervading peace. And just as soon the sunset's gorgeous flame, That builds within the west its battlement Of splendor, shall forever lose all joy For me, as thy dear love, which long has lent Such gladness unto every hour's employ. For now on both my soul is too intent For a time its strong devotion to destroy. 18 THE DAWNING OF A TRUER LOVE "If I should ever Take Offense." Ah, dearest, should I ever take offense At some slight thing thou thoughtlessly hast done, So slight, perhaps, that not another one But I would look upon it in that sense ; Know that my love for thee is so intense, And that of all the glad earth's smiles is none So sweet as thine, 'tis just as if the sun, That beams in heaven above, were blotted thence, To see thy kindness toward me ever less. But say not thou a heart so sensitive As this in its affection will not last ; For, it is such as these that stand the stress Of bitterest scorn, and in return but give The tenderness they proved in all the past. A Sweetness beyond all Speech. Like blissful notes the birds at dawning blend, First came the consciousness of love to me ; Then the wide world more beauteous grew to be; But when I tried that light to comprehend, So far its sweetness did all thought transcend, That, like the birds, with look uplifted to The boundless realms of the celestial blue, I gazing stood — thrilled as though I could spend A life-time there ; but ah, no burst of song Within me wakened then, for love had streamed Across my heart so wildly sweet and strong, 19 THE SHRINE OF LOVE I could but stand with speechless rapture dazed ; And unto thee I shall henceforth belong Whose heavenly soul mine own so lofty raised. 20 PART THIRD A Crucial Test (He learns that the former object of his affection is in distress of heart ; that she sighs for his presence, and desires his favor again. ) "Poor Shattered Wreck." Poor'shattered wreck of what thou wast, O why Return again to tear this heart of mine? Why show me now the sad, dismantled shrine Of thy lost beauty, once so like the sky, Where love-delighted larks upspringing fly? How can I lessen any grief of thine By quaffing further of life's bitter brine? What profit to the alien that he sigh To cross the seas, and seek his native shore Where desolation dwells forevermore ; To walk his native city's silent streets Where hopeless ruin his tearful vision meets? Far rather let those precious scenes appear Alone on memory's scroll, serenely dear ! THE SHRINE OF LOVE "What Good Were It?" What good were it should I, despite thy guilt, In scorning me, conduct thee once again To love's high halls which bear no faithless stain? 'Twas by thy treacherous hand Hope's wine was spilt, And blasted everything my heart had built ! Alas ! my soul is too sincere to feign Devotion where it once was shown disdain. Yet were these wrongs forgiven though I saw wilt Affection's fairest flowers before thy scorn. Alas ! how often have I lain till morn In lamentation o'er my love for thee; How often have I wandered till I'd see The twilight star, endeavoring to forget How my soul's worship was with mockery met! "Now Wilt Thou Say." Now wilt thou say for this I stand accursed ; That I, who once such boundless love ex- pressed, Failed utterly at the one vital test ; And on my head thy harsh reproach will burst ; Though thou hast acted of all beings, worst. Hast thou forgot how through the bygone years I followed after thee with pleading tears, When thou didst put thine empty pleasure first: Didst take this heart, whose heaven was in thine eyes, 22 A CRUCIAL TEST And cast it down with things that we despise? Meseems 'twould make thy wearing woe within More awful now, when thou so false hast been. Oh what a fall from bright abodes of bliss To misery unspeakable, is this ! °k "My Ster7iness to Thee" Say that my sternness to thee is insane ; That though thou wert perverse, the world is so; That I am foolish if my feelings glow With anguish at each trifling human stain. Go from me then; the simplest warbler's strain Is sweeter than thyself, and has more heart, And wandering in the forest will impart Far more relief than seeking thee again. Say I should suit myself to earth, and be Like others, else they soon will look on me As some strange creature crazed about a fault. Alas ! then well and good ; my heart will halt. I would not sell my birthright of the skies For all the winsome smiles of woman's eyes ! °* The True Love. Conquer all sinful tendencies, my soul, And lift to Heaven my hungering, human heart; That I may show the world my love is part Of that eternal, ever-perfect Whole, Toward which the circling centuries onward roll. 23 THE SHRINE OF LOVE A love which can console with sweet caress, Yet hath no self-desire nor sordidness ; A love which shields from stain life's sacred scroll, Yet kindlier makes our every deed and word. These coarser ones who need the gaudy show Of fashion's halls to set their hearts aglow, Have never yet his holy whisper heard ; For though love's pulses warmly thrill and beat, His spirit is divinely pure and sweet ! "Ah, Say Not Now to Me!" Ah ! say not now to me in thy defense That it were wiser that I execrate Men's base hypocrisy, than to berate A woman's worldliness with such intense, And wounding words; for darker and more dense Becomes thy guilt ; since thou didst sneer at me, Whose heart for one was from all treason free. Keener than other women's was the sense Of right and wrong with which thou wert en- dowed ; And thou who couldst have stood amid the crowd Of this sin-serving world as Truth's own type,* Compelling men to waken and to wipe Deception from their souls, didst stoop, alas, From that high station to the foolish class ! 24 A CRUCIAL TEST "Gone zs Our Guiding Star." Heaven knows that I would not one whit ex- cuse My fellows in their course of heartless wrong; Nor speak to them less sternly or less strong Of retribution's blow that swift ensues. So base they are, that often they abuse The holiest things of life for selfish ends But ah, there is not one of them that spends His days in such indulgence who would lose For worlds the lingering smile of woman's eyes That wooes him back to honor and the skies ; And even he who seems to set at naught Her sacred rights, reveres her in his thought. Oh then, if love's own vestal virgins mar Life's perfect page, gone is our guiding star! s* "Tve Suffered for Thy Sake" What was the Inquisition of old days Compared to what I've suffered for thy sake? I saw the mighty things that were at stake When first thy soul was wilful, and I'd gaze In wonder at thee in thy worldly ways. And oh ! how oft would I resolve to break Through all discretion, and in mercy wake Thee from thy foolish, pleasure-following craze ! I saw deception in thee, while my lips [word ; Were silenced, and could speak no warning Then came the shadows, and the dark eclipse, When of thy utter heartlessness I heard ; And I, who once besought of thee love's alms, Behold thee pleading now with piteous palms ! 25 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "I am not able now to Bless." Alas ! I am not able now to bless And cheer thee as in other days I was. While thou wert filling thy fair life with flaws, And scorning me who sought thy kind caress ; I was ascending through my soul's distress, Where I could worship with a love more wise. Then ask me not to leave these holier skies, And Her I love, to live with something less. And as for thee, oh can the winds restore Thy guilelessness that unto them was cast? Can e'en the loftiest longing that thou hast Bring back the beauty which was thine before ; Or endless years of anguish re-create Life's bartered crown, lamented now too late? s* Love Changed to Pity. When fate divides two trusting hearts that care, And cling, 'tis hard to give each other up; But ah, to drink and drain the bitter cup Of tainted tenderness, and love, once fair, Now fallen low, is more than we can bear. There is a line where Honor, Truth and Right Together stand with swords of flaming light, And cry to him who would transgress, "Be- ware!" [heart And when that line is reached, from out the All holy thoughts of her we loved depart ; And in their place a pity like the sea, Wide, strong, and yearning, comes, whose plaintive plea To lift the wayward soul whose life is rent, Would make the lofty skies themselves relent. 26 A CRUCIAL TEST (He heeds her call; his reason being that of pity and mercy. ) V Be Ca/m, My Soul." But ah, be calm, my soul, and stand the test ! Commingled love and mercy from above Are yet as gentle as the dawning' s dove, And cross the line to soothe the one distressed, Who used thee ill. But ah, it still is best That sacred Justice should abide supreme ; That e'en the wayward world should still es- teem The only things through which our life is blest. Forgive, aye, and forget ; but nevermore Lift the dear idol lofty as before. Abide thou always near to kindly heed The slightest summons to supply her need ; But keep thy life and love forever fair, And taintless as the unreached realms of air. 27 PART FOURTH The Ways of Love (He returns to the second love, after having soothed the first with sympathy; and then addresses the later love to prove his loyalty still to her. ) Unchanging Love. When came my soul to the refreshing spring Of thy dear love, 'twas not to quaff, and then Indifferent turn away, like other men ; For there to me the birds more sweetly sing, And newer life and joy hath everything. Long sought my heart this happy haven, and when 'Tis found, not lightly hence I'll turn again, But through the years thereto more fondly cling. And never until thou thyself refuse To longer let my soul this rapture share, Shall I depart ; then will I sadly muse Still on it as I wander everywhere. But when thy love my bosom so renews, Ah, dearest, couldst t thou cease for me to care? 28 THE WAYS OF LOVE "In Silence at Thy Side." In silence at thy side I worship, Sweet — The beauteous being sent by Heaven above To lift the fallen feelings of my love, And make me for a nobler usage meet. The first, fair-featured, whom I sought to take, Was not the one ; for wiser Heaven brake The image down. Ascend thou then love's seat Within my soul, and its dear idol be. The shrine I have been building was for thee ; Each note of rapture struck ; each grief I bore ; Each longing unrewarded, more and more The bark of my sad spirit onward drew To thee, so genial, angel-like, and true. (He hears that which makes her seem untrue. His feelings, as he afterward expresses them.) °k "Is She Untrue?" When this first sadness had bedimmed the blue Of our affection's yet unshadowed skies, I turned me toward thee with reproachful eyes, And thought, "Is she, alas, become untrue?" But, dearest, when my heart reverted to Thy kindliness of word and look and tone, Which only thou sincerely couldst have shown, Devotion touched me, like the vesper dew, And soothed my soul of every wound and pain. Ah, never knew I till that hour how strong Love's holy ties around the heart may be. When thou didst sit beside me and explain, Oh never seemed the world so sweet with song, Or thy dear love so precious unto me ! 29 THE SHRINE OF LOVE • • When First I had this Saddening Thought " When first I had this saddening thought of thee, My heart's dear hopes, that had appeared so fair, And which I'd cherished with peculiar care, Seemed all at once about to blasted be. But Love asserted his supremacy At last, just as he ever does, and where This sadness entered, soon the sunlit air Was filled with sweeter happiness for me. Ah, dearest, gratitude to fate is due, Which proved our credence in this love we'd told Each other would be more than equal to All trials, and last as unalloyed as gold. For now I feel that though the ^charge were true, My heart for thee its ardor still would hold. °* "O Soul Beloved" O soul beloved, when comes a doubt to thee, Cast it away, or hasten soon to tell Me of it, that I may at once dispel It from thee ! Clear as yonder skies must be This tender trust between thyself and me. Not for a moment must suspicion dwell Within the heart. Nay, for I know too well How soon is marred its sweet tranquillity ! Sometimes occurreth this inquietude ; But let our mutual faith abide so sure, 30 THE WAYS OF LOVE That not a storm which comes, however rude, Can makes its anchor any less secure. So shall our rapture ever be renewed, And as we've hoped, shall through the years endure. °k "Love's Faith." Ah, dearest, to the intellect alone Comes ever question of thy tenderness. The lofty soul unhappy is unless It reasons always ; therefore it is prone To doubts the heart doth readily disown. Hence Beauty, Pride, and Thirst for Glory to The intellect appeal, when they untrue Would make us. In the heart thy tender tone Is, like celestial music, murmuring Forever; and distrust ne'er cometh there. Each season's splendor surfeits, and must change ; But thy dear love to my glad heart doth bring A joy like that which liveth everywhere, At every season in wide Nature's range. (He expresses his love with sweeter inten- sity.) °k "There is a Trembling Tenderness in Thee." There is a trembling tenderness in thee That glorifies thy presence like the gleam Of morning doth the world ; a seraph's seem Thy step and smile and every tone to be, Or Nature's self, incarnate, come to me. 3i THE SHRINE OF LOVE And when I think to win thy sweet esteem, Thou seemest lofty as some lark, whose theme Of love is trilled from the infinity Of heaven's holy blue, and I but naught. Yet when my humble breast declares its need, And for thy soothing sympathy doth plead, The soul sublime, that in the skies I sought, Is back to earth a heart still human brought. Ah, dearest, then thou art divine indeed ! °k Why His Harp Notes are Heard. Ah, never think this love I feel for thee Is but a theme by which I seek applause ; For know, I only speak thereof because The sweetness it has brought has made me see How blinded to soul-beauty men may be Who find in all love's wisdom only flaws ; And 'tis to teach the world love's simple laws That these my notes are heard. Love is with me A thing sublime — of life itself the sum ; And surely, dearest, if my humble thought Has ever cheered a heart, or solace brought, The music of my harp should not be dumb. And all thy tender traits would then become A theme with but intenser sweetness fraught. °% 11 That I Could Prove Untrue!" Thou wouldst not think that I could prove un- true, If thou didst know how dear to me thou art. Can love be of the very soul a part ; 32 THE WAYS OF LOVE Add sweetness unto everything we do, Or hope to be ; and, like the morning blue Of heaven's horizon, open more sublime, The loftier hills of happiness we climb, And not endure? True love no limit to Its sweetness sets ; for though the past supreme With rapture was, the days to be shall bring A joy like some celestial jubilee. In all the world is but one worthy theme ; But one sweet thought to which my heart doth cling — And that the glorious love thou givest me. " When Every Hour Has Proved This Love." Why thinkest thou that time will witness me Less ardent in my tenderness than now? Ah, rather have I always wondered how A doubt could come about my constancy, When every hour has proved this love to be So far more sweet than when it first began. As well it were to say that they who scan With joy the beauty and sublimity Of Nature will grow weary after while: Of absence ask you? Does the alien who, Far from his native land has roamed the world, Share less delight, when once again the smile Of her dear shore he greets, and in the blue Of heaven above her banners are unfurled? °k "Love's Everlasting Spring." O Sweet, the skies and flowers divinely fair Have come ! The meadow-larks so tenderly 33 THE SHRINE OF LOVE Are caroling, it seems thy tone to me ; And such a soothing softness has the air, 'Tis like thy genial presence everywhere. The sunny smiles of dewy morn allure The blossoms forth so wondrous sweet and pure, That, like thy thoughts, they bring to me a rare Delight which nothing else beside inspires. Ah, e'en as earth and skies ere long shall seem To blend their beauties into one supreme, And perfect glory, let each noble thing That wakens in our hearts love's sweet desires, Unite us in its everlasting spring ! j "Oh, Let Us Make This Love of Ours so Rare." Oh, let us make this love of ours so rare, That other loves will like to it be built ; A love which like those leaves that never wilt, Will change not ; yea, a love which will forbear, And will forget, be skies or dark or fair. Oh, let us hold such mutual tenderness Between us, that our beauteous lives shall bless, And cheer all hearts, like morning's balmy air. Let every thought and deed in everything, Like sweet, harmonious bells accordance ring, That others so regardless now, shall pause, And learn of us love's ever kindly laws. And, dearest, our glad story soon shall cause The world to thrill with love's returning spring, 34 THE WAYS OF LOVE "I Love Thee So." I love thee so that if my every thought Of thee is not as soft as evening dews, With bitterness will I myself accuse; Yet all the while I know that there is naught Can chill the kindness thou to me hast taught. To but be in thy presence so imbues My breast with purity, and so renews My nature, that high Heaven seems nigh me brought. Oh then, say not that saddening word, "For- bear!" Nor send me forth thy smile no more to share. What arms would sooner shield thee, Sweet, than these? What soul would sacrifice so much to please Thee in all things, or sooner fly to ease Thy precious life of every pain and care? Aspirations. Alas, could I but be what I desire, My soul no longer would continue dumb, But in immortal words would sound the sum Of life and love, like a melodious lyre ! But wait, O soul, and soon the warm desire For lofty things will so awaken thee, That thou wilt wing the ether wild and free As warblers when the dawn is fair with fire. It is ordained that thou shouldst suffering seek Before the hour has come for thee to speak. And though 'tis lonely for thee thus to wait, Thy wings will but be lifted more elate ; For only he who finds the lowly sweet 35 THE SHRINE OF LOVE Shall rise to realms where fadeless sunbeams beat. °k Unselfish for Love's Sake. 'Tis he who walks the world with sympathy For all its ills ; who strives with song to rob The weary of their care ; whose feelings throb Responsive unto every human plea; Who shows how beautiful it is to be Unselfish and unstained for love's sweet sake, That into notes of rapturous joy shall break, And know at last fame's immortality. Go forth my soul, and from this very hour Prove by thy life the purity and power Of principle ; and by thy harsh disdain Of all dishonor that the world again Shall witness one who nobly dares to do Alone the things he holds sublime and true. "To Taste of Life and Love" To taste of life, of love's absorbing themes, Then think how faintly we conceived before, Reminds us of the wild, melodious roar Of Ocean outward bearing on its streams Some bark which sent on its first mission seems. Forgotten is the fast-receding shore ; The skies, wide-arched, and cloudless, stretch- ing o'er, Bend down to meet the billows kissed with beams Of sunny splendor, and the wondering gaze 36 THE WAYS OF LOVE Is thrilled although it turn a thousand ways. Then find affection's sweet infinity, And teach thy heart to ever kindly be ; And the small shore of Self will soon, indeed, Forever from thy widening sight recede. °% "The Calm of Later Years." And after while the multitudinous beat Of billows will be stilled, and thou wilt see Another harbor which shall welcome thee — The Calm Of Later Years, which comes as sweet As autumn-time, when all the ardent heat Of aimless longing leaves ; when to be free To stroll the happy fields, and just to be Back with the birds is rapture as complete As we could ask. Ah, in that calm delight Abides, O soul, thy source of ceaseless might ! To leave Self's lonely harbor, and explore The seas of life and love ; and when the roar Of their wild water lulls, to find release To teach sweet truths — ah, this is perfect peace ! °k Absence Unavailing to Conquer Love. Though Ocean's tide should take thee far from me, And fate conspire to keep us long apart, O Sweet, forevermore my loyal heart Would follow after and abide with thee. And since all absence can but saddening be, This will but show the more how dear thou art. 37 THE SHRINE OF LOVE When the rich splendors of the morning start, And clearly sings the lark upon the lea, Love's tender thrills back to my breast return. And though, with thought to chill, thou shouldst forsake And leave me, my devotion would not cease. When once within love's altar-fires awake, For the dear worshiped idol will I yearn, And only in her presence find sweet peace. (She sees the strength of his affection for her, and for certain reasons not understood by him, pursues a course of delicate, womanly silence, which he deems to be coldness, and even scorn. ) °* 41 Ah, Dearest What Is There That I Can Dor And art thou dumb, while still my bosom pleads? Ah, dearest, what is there that I can do More than I have to prove my heart is true? In bitter anguish every feeling bleeds, To think that, though my nature's highest needs Spring upward toward thy sweet, exhaustless love, As wakening bloom to balmy skies above, Their cherished hope, alas, to nothing leads ! Would that each midnight star whose tender- ness Looks from the dome, was now a word for me ; That in full flaming speech I could express The deep devotion that I feel for thee ; 38 THE WAYS OF LOVE And morning's splendor set to melody, To tell how boundlessly thy love could bless ! "When Thou Re garde si Not My Plea." Beloved heart, why be so harsh with me? If all the favor of dear friends I deem Not half so precious as is thy esteem, When thou regardest not my plaintive plea, What solace can their kindness ever be? Ah, dearest, thou dost cause my soul to wrong Their sympathy, when thus I show how strong The center of my life is fixed in thee ! They think me then ungrateful for the true, And tender things they are so glad to do. But be thou loving, and a warmth will start Forth from my bosom to the humblest heart That cares for me. Thy sweetness is the one Dawn-beam whence springs affection's un- dimmed sun. "But Love Is So Strange." But love is strange; and scorn is sometimes meant To send it an evangel everywhere That its sweet cheer is needed in the air. The soul on just one other soul intent Will find its homage all for nothing spent, If it should chance the idol has no care. So Nature turns us, that the world may share The wasted offering. 'Tis when we have blent Our feelings with some great, ennobling cause, Comes wakening to love's universal laws ; 39 THE SHRINE OF LOVE Comes the wide dawning on our wondering sight The meaning and the aim of truth and right. 'Tis then our souls in their unselfish arms, Can clasp the bliss divine that truly charms. °% Love y s Potency. Sometimes stern Duty's rugged oath I take To rid me of these clinging cords of love, And help me, eagle-like, to rise above Its blinding bondage, active and awake. But ah, such high resolve I soon forsake ! For like the sound of some dear forest dove, Love's notes recall me and more potent prove Than every effort that my heart may make. And Pride, which can rebuke so bitterly ; Sage Wisdom with her counsels shrewdly wrought ; And Friendship, with the kindest feeling fraught, In vain unite their most persuasive plea To turn the current of my tender thought, And from Love's gentle thralldom set me free. (He renews his pleading with more passion- ate fervor. ) "For Love of Thee." My soul is sickened with the ceaseless care It has for thee. Had I but seen before That I should watch so wearied and so sore, I'd ne'er have asked thy kindliness to share. Whate'er thou wishest I will gladly bear, 40 THE WAYS OF LOVE If only true in thought toward me thou art. I would not sigh though we were wide apart, And skies above to all but me were fair. But ah, when with cold silence thou dost meet Love's lavish offering, life no more is sweet! The chilling blasts of autumn-time that blight The beauty of her hills and forests, cease ; But ah, for love of thee I leave delight, And walk the wilds where comes no calm nor peace ! °k 11 ' Tis for Thy Happiness." Affection's sacred choice I leave with thee; And when thou choosest, I will say no more. But I beseech thee, dearest, now before The deed is done, that thou shouldst careful be. 'Tis for thy happiness I make the plea, And not my own devotion's selfish sake. My soul in time can crush each cruel ache That comes, if only thine from gloom is free Thou walkest in a world where dwells deceit, All unsuspicious of men's artifice; Because thou art so guileless, pure, and sweet. And though I can endure my blighted bliss, If one unworthy win thee — oh, at this, With what wild anguish would my bosom beat ! °k "To Give Thee Up" Ah, do these gentle words of warning mean To give thee up, and walk life's ways alone? Oh, can they mean that fairest joys have flown, And these sweet skies shall be no more serene ; That I who, happy-hearted, went to glean 4i THE SHRINE OF LOVE In hope's glad fields, return again with bare, And bleeding hands, and with the sad despair That in love hungering, weary souls is seen? To give thee up, and bid my breast be still, Which at thy slightest step was wont to thrill? To give thee up, and bid mine eyes to meet No more thy smile, so heavenly and so sweet? If such indeed must be my awful task, Alas, thou dost not know what thou dost ask ! "Yet Will I Wish Thee Welly Yet will I wish thee well, and set the right Of my great love aside, at thy desire ; Yea, at thy word, will quench devotion's fire, And leave its altars in eternal night. I will submit though in the very sight Of Heaven itself, whose gates I longed to gain ; And, at thy wish, will all my hopes restrain. I will go forth at thy desire, to fight Alone life's endless and unequal fray; Will bid my soul be dumb when day by day It wakes to call thee with despairing cries. Yea, I will wish thee well though all the skies, The hills and streams, which seemed to say before That thou wast mine, now whisper so no more ! At Parting. The music of thy voice is not for me ; And when anear thee now I must not broach The burden of my heart, lest I encroach Upon those rights that are more dear to thee Yet will I love thee still while tenderly 42 THE WAYS OF LOVE The birds around are caroling their strain. For though their guileless gladness gives me pain, They sound sometimes the hapless lover's plea. But think not I reproach by speaking thus ; For still have I what many never share — Sweet thoughts of hours that were melodious As coming morn ; when in thy presence there Were joys more rich than all the fabulous Arrays of royalty sublimely fair. °% "To Part in Kindly Peace." O send me not away, if in thy heart The least unkindly feeling still thou hast ; For wounds forevermore with lovers last, Though ocean's billows bear them wide apart. Since in this breast of mine supreme thou art, Dethrone not now the holy image there. These sweet associations I shall share No more ; and if, alas, the cruel dart Of altered tone or action cling to me ; It had been well if thou hadst never come Into this life of mine. Then still I plead To part in kindly peace ; lest when to thee In future days I cry, the skies be dumb, And Nature her dear self shall give no heed ! °% When Duty Bade Love Be Silent. Stern duty bids my ardent soul forbear, When in my bosom leaps wild, yearning love ; And points each purpose to the stars above, When comes the ocean-tide of tender care 43 THE SHRINE OF LOVE For her whose traits my deep devotion share. "Desist!" fate seems to say, "the destiny That all-wise Nature has designed for thee Denies love's sweetness now. "Then cease, O air, Of morn to bring thy beauty to my heart. Be still, ye birds that into music break On every bending bough, lest I forsake All silence, and aloud love's pleadings start! And likewise cease, ye bards, whose wondrous art Bids these wild thrills within my breast awake ! °% He Continues to Love Her in Silence. There is a love whose longing never gains The glorious object of our deep desires ; But lingers in the breast like smouldering fires, Long after lesser adoration wanes. The soul may stifle all its pleading pains, Nor show its passion save in noble deeds ; But still it lives, and ever onward leads To the supreme which human hope attains. With the dear idol dumb our voice may be ; But still the heart a holy light shall share — Caught from the worshiped-one's serenity, And from our high resolve, that, should the care Of those she deems more worthy languish, we Will give our all to guard her anywhere. 44 PART FIFTH When All Love's Hope Has Fallen. (A singular fate suddenly brings them to- gether again just as the unhappiness of which he forewarned her, is about to come ; and the trying conflict begins between the restraining power of his mighty affection, and woman's sovereign will in choosing her own course. ) s* Love's Final Warning. Eternal truth and justice at the stake Today are standing, and the voice of love, As holy as a being's from above, Appeals to thee to pause ; for not an ache, Nor sorrow stirs my soul but for thy sake. Self is extinguished, and whate'er I speak, Or do, Beloved, is but because I seek Thy happiness. All Nature seems to quake In anguish with me and aloud protest. To further see thy precious life distressed Which has already sacrificed so much ; To still see on thee woe's unpitying touch, While these strong arms can never soothe thy care With one sweet clasp is more than I can bear ! 45 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "But Go Thy Way* But go thy way, and I will silent be, However much my wounded feelings bleed. If thou in whom I trusted take no heed, Nor hast a word of kindliness for me, Who lavished all my life and love on thee, 'Tis time, alas, that I were dumb indeed. When tender thoughts and honors which exceed All sweetness that thy soul has hoped to see, And share for years, are proffered and refused ; When he who would have blessed thee is abused, And turned away ; when bartered for a mess Of pottage is love's birthright, surely less In justice to myself I could not do, Than trust the after years to prove me true ! "How Often 'Tzs the Fate:' Alas, how often 'tis the hapless fate Of lofty souls to love and idolize, Yet win no sweet response from women's eyes; To plead with all the pure and passionate Devotion of a nature nobly great, Yet see but silence after all their sighs. Oh, that some clarion call from out the skies Could wake her heart ere 'tis, alas, too late ! Why will she linger with the shams called love, When Love himself with arms outstretched above, Beseeches her to share his kingly feast? Why will she wait until his voice has ceased Forever, and she languishes in need, Ere she those holy words of his will heed? 46 WHEN ALL LOVE'S HOPE HAS FALLEN si My Spirit Will Submit" Without a word my spirit will submit ; But thought of me, if ever to thee dear, Shall thrust thee through hereafter like a spear. The record of my love in sorrow writ Shall overwhelm thy soul when thou dost sit, And watch life's clouded skies which once were clear. Sweet seasons shall return, and thou shalt hear The happy birds ; but ah, love's smile that lit Thy heart shall then have left its heavens for aye! I asked so little, yet was turned away. I followed after thee till it was wrong Against myself to follow more. Though strong As warming tides my love went forth to thee, 'Twas met by but a silent, icy sea. s* "I Wonder Not:' I wonder not that thy dark eyes desire No more to sweetly seek and meet mine own ; Nor that thou wishest now to be alone. The tender sound of love's melodious lyre Would strike thy spirit like a flame of fire. Thou art a land from which the birds have flown To find a fairer and more genial zone ; A sunset whose faint gleams no more inspire With rapture, but harass with harsh unrest. And what am I? A hopeless wanderer Among bare bowers, where birds no longer nest; 47 THE SHRINE OF LOVE A weary and belated reveler Amid sad, lonely halls from whence delight, And love, and melody have winged their flight ! s* 4 ' Thou Wilt Reproach Me. ' ' Thou wilt reproach me. I remember well In bygone days when Beauty cast her slur, And scorn at me, that thou didst plead for her, And try my irritation to dispel ; And thou wilt say I [ should suppress the swell Of these great sorrows now regarding thee. Ah, dearest, 'tis the voice of Destiny That stirs my spirit, and which bids me tell The woe of every breast that has been wronged ! Before we were divided, I belonged To thee, and only spake thy precious praise. But unto suffering souls and future days I now belong, and in each thrilling word I speak, a thousand heart-throbs may be heard ! "I Now Can Feel." I now can feel the sufferings of his soul Who, following after erring human life, To lift it up from sickening sin and strife, And set it forward toward Truth's lofty goal, Beholds him shipwrecked in the treacherous shoal Of thankless sneers, and base ingratitude ; But who, despite it all, doth sit, and brood In sad conjecture how the blotted scroll Of life may still be made immaculate ! 48 WHEN ALL LOVE'S HOPE HAS FALLEN O absent dearest, is my love so great That, like the sunshine, it unnoticed is? Ah, couldst thou see the sorrows that are his Who waits, while in his breast is speechless woe, Perhaps some little kindness thou wouldst show! The Heart That Is Hard. It seems sometimes my soul's sad cry would reach, And thunder like a judgment in thine ears; That thou wouldst pity me for all the tears, And sighs with which in worship, I beseech. Sometimes it seems that if the hills had speech, They'd sound my cause across the endless years, And say to thee that holy Heaven hears, Though thou dost not. The billows on the beach Rebuke thee ; and the morning birds that rise, And trill their tender notes through all the skies, I think would mock thee : and the silent stars, Like sorrowing eyes, would say, "Truth's sword debars Thee from the rapture of these realms above, Because thou wronged a fellow creature's love!" (During this trying interval she sends him forth from her. He leaves with the impres- sion of bitter wrong). 49 THE SHRINE OF LOVE " We Seek a Friend and Find Not One" When she in whom we trusted has abused The tenderest ties entwined about the heart, And with no throb of pity said, "Depart!" With bitter words we have at first accused, And blamed; but, ah! the breast, though wronged and bruised, At last relents, and Love forgives it all. When the dear idol, that we hoped to call Our own, is shattered, and the scenes we used To stroll, are now no longer full of peace ; When kindness, that we thought would never cease, Is changed to coldness, and the hopes we built Are blasted; when the world to gloom and guilt Seems given, under all the shining sun We seek a faithful friend, and find not one. J he Soul That Is Sincere. But, ah ! from such disaster and defeat O soul, emerge thou stronger and sublime; And call the world to witness that no crime Has touched thine altar, still secure and sweet. Let Honor testify that in the heat Of every crisis thou wert fully true, And bid Devotion say, "Let others do Whate'er they please, thou wilt not use deceit." O then continue changeless as before The thoughtless wronged thee ; and though to the core They cut thy feelings, for each stab of theirs, 50 WHEN ALL LOVE'S HOPE HAS FALLEN Show thou the garb the nobler nature wears ; And league thyself with them whose deeds redeem These latter days which so degenerate seem. The Higher Glory. There is a glory higher than the gain Of that on which we sometimes set our hearts ; And, ah! so often God's relentless darts, Which strike our idols down, but bid us strain Our vision to behold a loftier plain Of peace, from which we were kept back before. There thoughts and themes of beauty shall restore A sweet contentment in the place of pain. The earth and sunny skies there meet and melt Together ; there the sadness which we felt Is lulled, and leaves us; and our hearts, elate, Thrill with a rapture that no tongue can speak. Then rise, O soul, with new resolve and seek The holier things that on the heights await. ■■ We Shall Not Pause." 'Tis Nature's purpose that we shall not pause To waste in fruitless longing all the day ; But at the dawn to waken, and away To where the world is battling for the cause Of Truth, and Love's so long neglected laws. Then lift thy fallen feelings and essay To sound a sweeter summons to the fray; And thou shalt find how harsh defeat but draws 5i THE SHRINE OF LOVE Thee on to that which for thyself is best. Then calm within thee all this wild unrest ; Let not thy fervor be a force whose bent Is misdirected ; nor thy life be rent With petty trials, but untiring be To find and fill thy noblest destiny. "Like One Who Sees the Sunset Fade Away." Like one who sees the sunset fade away, When onward comes the starless, stormy night, I stand, as from my life departs the light Of thy dear love. Brief was its blissful day ; Alas, far too celestial sweet to stay ! Sad, streaming tears of anguish dim mine eyes, And after thee my heart still wildly cries. There is no earthly crown that could repay My soul for the fond hope it now gives up. So fully have I quaffed of sorrow's cup That pleasure will hereafter prove but pain. And ah, so rudely was I torn from thee, That I could never, never love again, Though all love's hoarded wealth were offered me. "This Is the Fate." This is the fate of sadness and despair Far worse than darkness, dearest, from which I Had hoped to keep us, sure thou knowest why — Because there is no blow more hard to bear ; No keener cut of thrice-armed tyrant care. There is no refuge underneath the sky, 52 WHEN ALL LOVE'S HOPE HAS FALLEN Where from its harsh effects the heart may fly. There is no lapse of seasons that can wear Away its wound ; no mighty hand of power Able to bid it leave us for an hour — The fate to stand divided from the one Who of all souls where shines the circling sun, Or lift the azure realms of heaven above, Was dearest to our life's confiding love. "Yea, Sweet, I Loved Thee" Yea, Sweet, I loved thee; loved thee with a pure, And holy worship, like to theirs who dwell Where love's celestial soothing harp notes swell. But ah, just when I thought I was secure Of thee its priceless treasure, stricken poor Was I with a bare want no words can tell. Yet shall I try to think that all is well, However hard my fate be to endure ; For ah, the soul to duty and to right Loyal forever, finds at last the light ! Conscious within that we were never false Nor sordid in the least desire we had ; A faith ineffable at length exalts Us far above all fate however sad. "Lay Thou No Sorrow to My Charge." At some far future day, if I no more Return with tender kindness unto thee, Remember how thou didst go forth from me. And I without a word mine anguish bore. 53 THE SHRINE OF LOVE When, like a watcher on some lonely shore, Thine eyes shall sweep the wide, unpitying sea Of life in vain for one to hear thy plea ; Recall the love abandoned long before. For though my breast in that sad day shall bleed, Because I cannot fly to fill thy need ; Remember, dearest, 'twas thine act which brake The bond between us. Then lay thou no ache Nor sorrow to my charge, in thy distress, When love returns no more to soothe and bless! 54 PART SIXTH Separation "Like Lone a?id Sad-Eyed Israel." Alas, like lone and sad-eyed Israel, Which saw its pride and precious glory gone — Down-trampled by the hosts of Babylon — Seem I, as now we separate to dwell In darkness and despair. Wild sorrows swell My breast such as the captive Hebrews had, When that loved city there amid the glad, Sweet hills, was fired by alien hands, and fell. Yet, dearest, still across the dreary days, Like Daniel's, shall my trusting spirit gaze: Beholding in each beauty of the west An image of the hour when I may see Rebuilt the hopes by which my life was blessed ; And as of old, unsorrowing, worship thee. "Though Thou Art Silent." Though thou art silent, yet I fully know Thou hast a higher heart that leaps and longs To meet mine own, despite dividing wrongs. Though thou, alas, art bound to things below, Thou hast a spirit that doth starward go 55 THE SHRINE OF LOVE To greet mine own on pinions glad and free ! Yea, dearest, thy sweet soul still walks with me Amid the friendly hills where breezes blow. My care-worn brow each evening seems caressed By thy kind touch, when turned toward the west. And when the sounds of blissful dawn I hear, It seems thy step, so softly sweet and dear ; And soon the earth and overarching skies Seem smiling with the love light of thine eyes! "The Thought of Thee.'* Though I may never, never greet again Thy precious presence, still the thought of thee Shall evermore my inspiration be — My sheltering refuge from the world's disdain: My sweet consoler in each trial and pain. Though nevermore beside me I may see Thy blessed self, O soul of sympathy, And tenderness, yet shalt thou sovereign reign Within my life to keep it nobly pure. And, ah, if fate should call thee to endure Sad days of sorrow for love's fallen flowers Which could, alas, have once been fully ours: Remember then that for each sigh of thine, A thousand griefs have wrenched this breast of mine ! "Like a Majestic Cloud." Like a majestic, cool, and showery cloud That on a long, and sultry summer's day 56 SEPARATION Uplifts its lofty form afar away, Love came into thy life, with weariness bowed ; And there continued it ; thou couldst not crowd It from thee, nor escape its sovereign sway. It rilled thy skies, and with its genial spray Wakened the traits with which thou wast en- dowed, And caused them to put forth, like fairest flowers. Thou didst not know how truly thou wast blessed ; But simply quaffed the solace of those hours, And let it soothe thy spirit's harsh unrest. So sweet Love was, that e'en thy griefs seemed set To music whose soft murmur said, "Forget !" "Hope Winged Away frotn Thee." Then came Love's gloaming. As the western skies Aflame with gorgeous splendors but declare The night at hand, the rapture thou didst share, But told its sad departure from thine eyes ; For as the dove that through the twilight flies Till lost to view, Hope winged away from thee, And left thee but its wretched memory, Lone lamentations, tears, and ceaseless sighs. Then Love's great shadow swelled into a cloud Filled with fierce lightnings, and with thunders loud; And like a bird that beats against its bars 57 THE SHRINE OF LOVE Art thou. Yet, dearest, wait; the tranquil stars May gleam again ; and afterward the dawn Break with lark carols saying, "Grief is gone!" "Go and Forget Thee" "Go and forget thee!" Dearest, words are vain. Bid yonder mateless, winter-weary bird Forget the hours when on the hills were heard The south-wind's murmur and the streamlet's strain, Which ne'er for it may sweetly sound again. Alas ! 'tis easy to annihilate Love's hope ; but never by the hand of fate Has love's sad lingering memory yet been slain. As well to bid the night forget her stars, When storms are loud ; or him whom heaven debars From halls of bliss to think of them no more ; To say to him whose royal forehead wore, In happier days the dazzling coronet Of kingly sovereignty and fame, "Forget!" a When Thou Art Away." When winds of winter strip the forest bare, And drive the warblers to a sunnier shore, Hope in the heart of Nature smiles no more ; For her dear scenes their desolation wear Till spring with scepter touch bids them be fair In odorous robes of flowers, and to rejoice, 58 When winds of winter strip the forest bare, And drive the warblers to a sunnier shore, Hope in the heart of Nature smiles no more. But her dear scenes their desolation wear." SEPARATION As sounds again each bird's familiar voice. But what to me will be the flowing hair The seraph step and silvery laugh of Spring When thou, who wast her image, art away? Still to the past my sorrowing soul shall cling ; And, if heaven wills, thou mayest return some day, Like Autumn, to these waiting arms of mine — Sad-eyed, but sweeter and far more divine. "They Speak of Battles. They speak of glorious battles that have gained A loftier elevation for the world ; Of them who stood where shot and shell were hurled, And fiery missiles were around them rained. But ah, a fiercer conflict far has stained, And rent love's banner over me unfurled — A moral conflict, in which I was whirled, And forced along by every traitor trained To overthrow the heart that would be true. And not by day alone did they pursue Their fiendish work, but in the silent night, Aroused from rest, I've put their hosts to flight. But, dearest, though ten thousand such assailed, For thy sweet sake and holy love's they failed! Love Still Sovereign. Then say not thou another shall secure The adoration of this soul of mine, [thine.] Which through such awful conflicts still was 59 THE SHRINE OF LOVE For as the everlasting hills endure, So shall my love for thee, made but more pure By separation, till it seems divine. Amid these fields, and all along that line Of forests have I wandered to secure Release from Pride's assault upon my heart. But forth as if from ambush then would dart Revenge and Jealousy to baffle me ; But through those troublous hours I cried to thee In spirit, and though still divided now, Still sovereign of my soul O Love art thou ! "Think It Not Strange:' Think it not strange when I thus execrate The heartless fate that sundered us for aye ; That I who never yet was heard to say Harsh words to thee, now seem to speak with hate. Ah, didst thou but divine my hopeless state Of anguish which increases day by day, As from my life thy love doth fade away, Thou likewise wouldst lament this fall of fate ! Ah, then think it not strange that thou dost find Hard accents in my voice, once only kind ; That these mine eyes, once soft with love's desire To heed each wish, now flame with fiercer fire. Alas, how could I love thee so unless 'Roused when we both are sure of wretched- ness! 60 Then on the wings of the last fading gleams Of sunset shall my holy wishes fly; And not fall back as from an empty sky : But sweet as twilight to the hills and streams, Descend again with the celestial spell Of Peace, which softly whispers, 'All is well.' " SEPARATION "They Are of Love Alone" Yea, should these silent sorrows I have shown Seem in the least degree to violate That lofty spirit which should bow to fate — Remember that they are of love alone, And not mere idle words at random sown. Then should they reach thee in this awful state Of separation, know they are not hate, But holy hints of my heart's worship blown Across dark days and deserts unto thee As sweet assurance that, though sundered, we Are of the few who love forevermore ! This suffering soul of mine can stand before The face of Truth and Honor, and can say, "Strike, if I now offend in any way!" (He hears that she is unhappy, as he had warned her she would be ; and thereupon ex- presses his sorrow for her ; and defends himself for so doing. ) "The World Would Say." The world would say I have no right to speak, Nor show these lamentations o'er my love; But I will breathe them to the stars above, Which witness the" keen anguish of the weak, And helpless. Silent seem they, aye, and meek; Yet are they each the everlasting seat Where God's own chosen guardian angels meet To send forth aid to all that suffering seek. Then on the wings of the last fading gleams Of sunset shall my holy wishes fly, 61 THE SHRINE OF LOVE And not fall back as from an empty sky ; But sweet as twilight to the hills and streams, Descend again with the celestial spell Of Peace, which softly whispers, "All is well!" "Tzs Not That I Am Selfish: 1 'Tis not that I am selfish, and desire Thee just to walk life's ways with me alone, That, like a restless sea, I sigh and moan. Oh, 'tis because thy spirit which was higher Than any woman's; and which at love's fire, As a sweet vestal virgin could attend, Is doomed through weary years to sadly spend Its heavenly self as lesser things require. Without a murmur could I see thee go Forever from me, if I did but know That thy dear heart had health and happiness ; And that thou wast beloved as I love thee. But ah, no plaintive language can express My woe at witnessing thy misery ! "I Blame Thee Not." I blame thee not, but ah, my burdened breast Laments the desolation thou hast left ! Life's bowers of birds and beauty are bereft ; And Love with anxious eyes looks forward lest Thou likewise shalt awake with wild unrest, To find his genial smile forever gone. Alas ! what then will be the blush of dawn ; The sunny noon, or glory-kindled west ; The far infinity of fading hills ; The over-arching azure of the skies ; 62 SEPARATION The golden-breasted larks, or gleaming rills, But sad reminders to thy dear dark eyes?, Redoubled then will be my weight of woe To see thy precious soul despairing so. *? "How Truly Dear Thou Art." The world will wonder, and will ask me why I stifle not these sorrowing words I say, And, like the rest, go gaily on life's way. Alas, the spirit that is of the sky Cannot behold this world without a sigh. What is the heart that warmly throbs, but when Hope is eclipsed, can lightly love again? If love doth idolize, yea deify Its object, 'twill not cease if fate exclude It from the altar where it used to go. Oh, then when city pleasures I've pursued Dim not thy likeness in my lonely heart ; Nor Nature's scenes console me, let it show But all the more how truly dear thou art. To What Extent Affection Flies. I sometimes think that holy Heaven has sent This awful separation down on me, To test the mighty love I feel for thee, And show the wayward world to what extent Human affection flies, yet is not spent. Across the deserts, dearest, will I seek Hereafter for thee; and though worn and weak; Yea, wrecked and wretched even, every rent 63 THE SHRINE OF LOVE Within thy heart my love will heal again, If thou but keep thy spirit free from stain. Far back amid these hills must I abide ; But still my love, whatever may betide, Shall daily wing its flight, and hover where Thou art, if thou but heed it in the air. / Will Be Silent. At last I will bid silence seal my lips ; For after all thou sufferest more than I Since peace hath left thee now, and in thy sky The sun of love forever sees eclipse. Thy life no more like murmured music slips Along, but is a dreary, dull routine ; And hopes on thy horizon now are seen Departing from thee, like far-sailing ships. For one brief, empty hour thou didst exchange The calm and bliss of all the after range Of circling years ; and pity bids me cease. Would it were mine to bring thee still release ; But ah, the spirit for its hasty deeds In endless bitterness of anguish bleeds ! The Strength of Silence. Should any at thee hurl their shafts of hate And scorn, go silent onward, O my soul. Let them not lure thee to the shallow shoal Of small contention ; they will but berate Thee more thereafter. Fools that speculate Upon a star change not its course one whit. 'Throned with eternal truth doth Silence sit; And subject unto her is every fate. 64 SEPARATION Then though the heart that thou hast trusted in Through all the years, against thine own should sin ; Speak thou no word of harshness, but be still ; For sorrowing eyes of love more deeply thrill Than wounding words; and they who wait, and bear, Shall victory's imperial purple wear ! (Up to this time in the separation he has no reason to believe she really loves him; but faint indications of the truth reach him, with- out her knowledge; and in the exhaustless tenderness of his heart, he casts away all thought of his own grief ; speaks sorrowfully of her sufferings, and declares his unchanging loyalty and love. ) °% "How Strange the History of Our Lives" How strange has been the history of our lives ! Blessed with a sweet similitude of heart ; The same high scorn of every selfish art ; And with that spirit which still onward strives Through trial until triumphant it arrives At glory's goal; how glad could we have gone Together in love's ever-widening dawn ! But harsh misfortune, which so oft deprives Us of the treasures that we deem most dear, Befell our hopes, and blasted them for aye. But ah, the hills and starry hosts shall hear Our hapless story and esteem it sweet ; And lonely fellow-sufferers day by day, Shall find a solace in our sore defeat. 65 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "Yet How I Miss Thee." Yet how I miss thee ! Dearest, every day I need thee. None can know my heart and soul As thou, who read them like a written scroll ; And soothed me more than seraph speech could say. How often has my spirit, held at bay By troubles, seen them at thy word dispelled. What wonder then that my devotion welled With its full strength to thee, and will alway. 'Twas thou I saw when far blue western hills In childhood stirred me with a strange unrest. 'Twas thou I heard when softly murmuring rills Awaked a vague, sweet sadness in my breast — My Love, my Destiny, whose touch yet stills These longings, and makes all my being blessed! "Not for the World." Not for the world and all that it contains Would I accept a spoken word from thee, Which said thy precious heart was still with me. But ah. there is a spirit which disdains All barriers that are blindly built, and gains Celestial summits, where it wanders free, And finds the One who is its destiny ; And there they dwell, immaculate of stains. Why we were sundered, and must suffer so, Alas, is now not for our hearts to know ; But in love's higher, holier atmosphere 66 SEPARATION We shall live always, to each other dear. So shall the streams and birds, which sound so sad, Again for us be softly sweet and glad. °k "Let Us Submit." Let us submit, and do our duty well. Go pass thy precious life in servitude ; And I will wander on. So shall this rude, And selfish world be shown how sorrow's spell But softens lofty souls. Though thou dost dwell In darkness, dearest, grief shall be subdued By knowledge that my love awakes renewed In strength each day, like one sweet season's swell Into another that is more sublime. Send me no word; for such would be a crime. The world beholds us ; and if we should break The smallest tie of truth, the shock would shake The everlasting structure of love's laws, And we love's altar keepers be the cause. °* " We Cannot Stifle Love's Great Soul." But ah, despite this awful sacrifice, We cannot stifle Love's great, throbbing soul ; Ne'er wreck his bark on separation's shoal; Nor sweep his flaming star from out our skies ! Yet we shall never meet ; for ah, my sighs Would swell to sorrows that I could not bear, To see thee in thy servitude's despair! The past is precious, but no soul is wise 67 THE SHRINE OF LOVE To seek the shattered wreck of its lost love, Unless assured that soon hope's heavens will clear, And life to both thereafter be more dear. Far rather let him, like the forest dove, Which murmurs evermore sweet memory's lays, In absence only muse of by-gone days. " When Thy Dear Life:' When thy dear life with troublous tasks is worn; And thy dark eyes with sorrow's tears are dim, My love shall hover like a seraphim About thee, to thy slightest service sworn, Though I then wander far away, forlorn. Though thou receive no sign nor word from me, My heart of hearts shall still abide with thee. My soul of souls on each succeeding morn, Shall stand beside thee and behold thy tears. When thy dear mind amid life's harsh routine, Reverts to sweeter times of long gone years, Look forth on Nature's softly soothing scene; And let thy longings seek me evermore, Like birds that fly to find a sunnier shore. °% "They Know Me Not, Nor Read My Heart Aright" They know me not nor read my heart aright Who think 'tis for myself alone I show, And speak this grief at harsh misfortune's blow. 68 SEPARATION For sure, a sympathetic spirit's sight Can wisely look and witness that the light Which on love's altar burns is but for thee. Suppressed, alas, must be the piteous plea Thy soul would utter in its hopeless night Did not stern Duty bid that voice be still. And in these words of mine that pierce and thrill, Thy stifled woe, as well as mine, is heard. The knowledge of thy suffering has so stirred My being that it will no more be bound, But in far-reaching notes thy grief shall sound ! (He learns to live without her.) " Faith's Star Still Shine s.'* Watch with thy spirit's wiser vision, lest Thou miss the purpose of these lines of mine. The truths I write are none the less divine With love because in sorrowing words ex- pressed. Beyond the shadows of the sunless west, Yea, through the curtains of the darkest cloud Faith's star still shines, unnoticed by the crowd. My soul still trusts that all is for the best, Despite the saddest things my songs may say. Since I must walk life's longest, weariest way, Bid not my solace-seeking heart be still ; For other sufferers follow, and until The height is reached whence breaks God's glorious dawn, Oh, let my harp still sweetly lead them on ! 69 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "I Would Not Be Content" I would not be content to just possess The holy treasure of thy tender heart, Though more than all the world to me thou art. I would not ask to share thy love unless It lifted me to God, and made me bless With songs celestial all who might give heed. J would not for thy precious kindness plead, Nor ask of thee a single sweet caress, Unless the light that lives in all true love Should shine through me, and set my soul above, Where all the weary of the world could see The ceaseless throbbings of my sympathy, And feel that thy dear heart to me was given To make me but an instrument of Heaven. "Forth from the Flames." Tried in the fire was I to bring the force, And strength within me to its destined end ; For though by anguish bowed, my soul did bend, Not break ; and soon its every deep resource Aroused, and set me on a loftier course. The sorrows that distressed me now recede, And after while it shall be dawn indeed, And leave no lingering shadow of remorse. Though thou art gone, yet still my gain is great ; For love and faith now triumph over fate, And I am rich with wondrous wealth divine. 70 SEPARATION Forth from the flames that torture, but refine, I come, and hopeful face the future days, Though now we walk life's wide-divided ways. Faith and Hope. 'Twas early morning and the fields were sweet When foith with happy Faith and Hope I went To find life's flowers. The golden hours were spent Without a thought of sorrow or deceit. But soon the storms around about us beat, And from the skies no ray of splendor gleamed. Then were we separated, and it seemed That we, alas, no more should ever meet. But ah, I feel again the tender touch Of their dear lips ; their arms encircle me With warmer clasp ; and looking up I see How loftier than mere earthly love they are. And from this holy hour a purpose such As ne'er I've had, shall be my guiding star. °* "The World Is Beautiful Once More. The world today is beautiful once more. Across the fields a newly-wakened bird Now wings her flight, and vernal streams are heard. Forgotten is the gloom which was before ; And cheerful-hearted I can now explore The quiet hills ; for see, the skies are sweet ; And Hope with Memory once more may meet. The wound that pierced my being to the core Is soothed; a firmer faith in every one, 7i THE SHRINE OF LOVE And consciousness that after all there's much To make life tranquil,^ soothes me with its touch. The fabric of affection still is seen Uplifting its tall turrets toward the sun, But ah, 'tis holier and far more serene! PART SEVENTH Through Trials to Trust Supreme (A long season elapses, during which he learns the reason of all her past action toward him : sees that she even loved him most ten- derly during all the days of her silence, and seeming coldness: and he pleads for the re- establishment of the former affectionate rela- tionship with her : and also tells how exalted she has become in his eyes. ) In Anguish Bowed. How often in our heedless haste we say To even one who is our dearest friend, "Do this, or that, and all our trust will end!" But like the skies, which brighten far away, When widening dawn awakens unto day, Love onward leads, and bids us follow him — For well Love knows that, though our eyes be dim With tears of anguish now, he will array Our souls with glory in the after years, When God's high purpose in each trial appears. For Love arises from the crucial test Far sweeter, yea, as well as sadly wise : And soon the sorrow which so sorely tries, Shall prove the angel by which we were blessed ! 73 THE SHRINE OF LOVE When Faith Returns. Though storms divide us, still shall I retain The tender trust that evermore was ours When skies were soft, and birds built in the bowers. For well I know could thy sweet voice explain, 'T would i soon transform to rapture all my pain. On heavenly heights my heart can scarce con- ceive, Thou walkest now: but dearest, I will weave Love garlands for thee, and awake the strain This harp of mine has never caught till now, When perfect laurels crown thy holy brow. What is my kindness when compared to thine, But worldly worth to righteousness divine? What is my love to thine but one faint gleam Of starlight unto morning's sun supreme! "Since I Have Suffered' O Sweet, since I have suffered all the years, Cannot thy loving kindness now forgive, That we hereafter as of old may live? Heed thou my ceaseless longing, sighs and tears, Which tell how time but all the more endears Thee to my soul as its anointed one. The purest beauty I have looked upon Not half so precious as thyself appears. Forgiveness and affection are in me Exhaustless now, and evermore shall be. 74 THROUGH TRIALSTO TRUST SUPREME Then since this heart of mine is humbled so, Bid thou thy streams of feeling to reflow ; For ah, love is too fair of all life's flowers To idly toss aside if it be ours. °% He Reviews the Past, and Tells How Love Cha7iged Him. Before thy coming I was like to one Within his room, from all the world withdrawn. But soon I heard the happy sounds of dawn, And opened wide my windows to the sun ; Since bliss and beauty for me had begun. Then forth again, like some glad-hearted fawn, Into life's fields I went; and joyous on I've journeyed ever since; and there is none In the whole land who tastes such sweet release, Or finds such ceaseless, satisfying peace. The birds around me can but half express The rapture that I share; and skies which bless Mine upward gazing vision seem too small To shrine thee, now indeed my all in all ! He Tells of Love* s Reflection to the World. Oh, would that I amid these wayward years Could take the themes of love and tenderness, And clearly sound them forth to sweetly bless The world wherever suffering need appears ; That I could speak in language like a seer's, Yet soft as murmured dove notes 'mid the dew, And with warm feelings these hard souls imbue ! 75 THE SHRINE OF LOVE I'd take sweet Nature, which each day endears Herself more strongly to my inmost heart, And touch again the altar fires of Art; And teach the haughty with their selfish ways, That truth of life still wins the noblest praise ; That all which thrills the soul or greets the sight, Still has within it Love's celestial light. The Noblest Type. Amid earth's wearying throngs we find a few Whose hearts are heavenly altars, still afire With tenderness and truth ; who never tire Of Duty's call, whatever may ensue ; Who stand sublime, though all the sunny blue Of life be darkened, and warm friends for- sake ; So sacrificing that they hold each ache, And trial as nothing, so they still are true. 'Tis souls like these that through the circling years Abide as lofty models to the world ; And like great crags 'gainst which the sea is hurled, Beat back whatever tide of fate appears ; Till soon the billows that did once distress, Submissive come to murmur and caress. °% "Thou Wert Selected: 1 Thou art no longer as thou wast before, In by-gone days ; for Song hath taken thee, So tender, seraph-like, and true, to be 76 THROUGH TRIALSTOTRUSTSUPREME A type to womankind f orevermore ; Hath lifted thee where larks with love notes soar, That heedless eyes may heavenward look and see A soul from selfish faults and failings free. As ocean's waters whisper to the shore Their ceaseless music, so thy wondrous heart With warmest sympathy toward all doth stait. Thou wert selected for the sovereign seat Of fame because thy life was kind and sweet. Thou scornest not the lowliest task nor care, And honor's highest laurels shalt thou wear. "I Fled from Men" I fled from men when thou my all wert gone ; For oh, I could not walk the crowded streets, And face my fellows, lest the flaming heats Of baseness that burned in them, like a drawn, Keen saber smite me ; and I could not fawn Upon the fools of fashion, lest my heart Be stung by soulless smiles as by a dart, I sighed and said, "Oh that my gift were brawn Of arm, instead of heart and soul that seek For love and beauty fading e'er from view!" But like immortal music's murmur speak The accents of thy voice to me once more ; And thy dear touch, as soft as vesper dew, Now heals my heart and soul, once wounded 77 THE SHRINE OF LOVE "Is Thy Sweet Self the Same?" Is thy sweet self the same? Oh, can it be I look upon thee still as seraph pure In spirit as when thou didst seem secure Of sunshine, and to walk life's ways with me? Oh, shall my lofty longings find in thee The same untarnished nature that was thine In other days? Yea, only more divine ! Through flames of grief and floods of woe still free Was thy heart's holy altar kept, and this Shall bring thee honor's crown, and ceaseless bliss. Subdued thou art, but doubly sweet and dear. Yea, in thy dawn-like eyes still smiles the clear, Celestial light of everlasting love ; And murmurs in thy breast its beauteous dove ! "A Saintly Halo Is Around Thy Brow." A saintly halo is around thy brow, And in thy soul are truth and strength which make Martyrs immortal at the burning stake. If earth contains incarnate Heaven, 'tis thou, Who, in thy nobleness of spirit now— When all the world, absorbed by self desire, Forgets the fervor of love's holy fire — Submissive to such blows of fate canst bow. But ah, a sheltering harbor calleth thee. 78 THROUGH TRIALSTOTRUSTSUPREME For dearest, on life's ocean long enough Hast thou been tossed by billows wild and rough. Then let this harbor give thee once again Serenest calm in place of ceaseless pain ; And from the sorrowing past thy spirit free. 79 PART EIGHTH Love Unspeakable at Last (They meet amid the autumn fields in after days. ) Autumn. 'Tis autumn on the hills. The summer's heat Has hastened southward, and a subtle calm, Which^at once a quickening and a balm, Has come to make the dim September sweet. No rapture of the year is more complete Than that which thrills through all thy tender airs, O autumn-time: for though thy beauty bears The soul aloft where larks and sunlight meet, Thou hast the spirit of long vanished years, Whose sad, vague sweetness thy return endears. Still linger in thy dales the vernal dews: Warm summer in the splendor of thy hues Is imaged still : and in thy very blight Abides a strange, ineffable delight. The A utumn of the Heart. There is an autumn of the human heart That in its spirit is akin to thee — When ardent aspiration comes to be 80 Tis autumn on the hills." LOVE UNSPEAKABLE AT LAST No less sublimely fruitful than thou art: When hopes and longings that within us start, Are all from vain ambition's fervor free. When kindliness asserts its sovereignty : And noble strength diverts dejection's dart, As doth a shield. When with unselfish deeds We meet the waiting world's unnumbered needs : When fairer than thy hues, we find within Us truth and honor, then the days begin That to the soul like thy sweet presence seem, O season of the circling year supreme ! F "Aye, Summer Days Are Ended" Aye, summer days are ended, but the air Is balmy, and the meadow-larks still make Melodious music : nor will they forsake, When other warblers fly to lands more fair. Come, dearest, while they carol; cease all care, And let love's tender rapture re-awake To soothe our souls of every wound and ache. The breeze shall unto us its blessing bear, And autumn hills around us whisper, "Peace !" Let us not hasten. Long for this release I've hoped and waited, when my heart could speak, Unhindered, all its burden: and could seek The idol of my breast, and ask for me The tender love that lives alone in thee. THE SHRINE OF LOVE "Love Has Been Guiding Me" Love has been guiding me since long ago, When skies were sunny and the fields were fair, He led me on, his sweet delights to share. But soon I saw 'twould not be always so. In conflict with affection's every foe I found myself — to teach me I must bear Rough bruises, and sad waiting's ceaseless wear. Then precious hopes were blasted at a blow, To try my loyalty, and prove me true. Not always in the dales and vesper dew Did he permit my lingering, but sent heat, And thirst to test, and make my spirit sweet. Oh, then since these without a word I bore To win thee, be thou mine forevermore ! "I Feel Your Perfect Peace." Ah, dearest, answer soft and sweetly, "Yes." These hands have long outstretched alone to thee: This soul has yearned to live beside the sea Of thy great heart's unbounded tenderness — Has silence kept until it could express In one wild sentence all my life-long plea : "Thou art the heaven of every hope to me!" Receive the shelter of these arms to bless, And cheer thee, since thou taught them to be strong O lips that I have idolized so long, 82 LOVE UNSPEAKABLE AT LAST Your touch is truth ! O trembling eyes, your gleam Is love unspeakable at last ! O theme That tongues and harps celestial never cease To speak, and sound, I feel your perfect peace ! 33 Lyrics of Love Beauty. Like April's seem thy features fair, Sweet maiden, for her blush so pure ; Her freshness ; and her grace demure, Beam forth in rarest beauty there. And oh, what brilliance in thine eyes ! Celestial fire the soul to thrill ; Light out of darkness, deep and still, Ascending through the dawning skies. And whence the music of thy speech? Did some meandering rivulet, Where overhead cool boughs were met, To thee those tones so cheering teach? And whence thy heart so free from guile? Sure some dear warbler of the field That priceless boon to thee revealed, Which no deceit could e'er defile. Long may that smile, sweet maid, be given To set men's souls from darkness free; To guide them up to purity, And light the way, like gleams from heaven ! 85 LYRICS OF LOVE Absence. The western skies are starless now; No beauty's beacon sweet, When evening comes, smiles softly down Where happy lovers meet. Thus from the heavens of my heart I miss a tender light ; For she my song, and hope, and cheer, Is far from me tonight. Constancy. I love thee when the morning hours Are joyous, fresh and new ; I love thee when the noontide calm Descends the forest through. I love thee when the sunset skies, Aflame with glory, burn ; I love thee when the twilight birds Back to their nests return. I love thee when the silvery moon Smiles down on vale and hill ; I love thee when the midnight stars Are glowing far and still. I love thee when the dawning east Proclaims the darkness o'er; Ah, sweetheart, wouldst thou know the truth? I love thee evermore. 86 LYRICS OF LOVE "Sweet Harp, How Oft:' Sweet harp, how oft I've known thee To languid be a time, The deeper to intone thee For melody sublime. O bosom that repinest At birds for silence long, Hark how with notes divinest They flood the skies with song. Lo, what a gleam of splendor Bursts from the gloomy west, And with effulgence tender Gilds all the storm cloud's crest. Thus when she seemed forsaking My idolizing heart, Her smile upon me breaking, Bade all my doubt depart. When Love Despairs. Thy love may meet with bitter scorning, And never reach luxuriant bloom ; But let the fragrance of its morning Still sweetly linger in the gloom. Forever may the days deny thee The bliss on which thy soul was set ; But leave its broken beauty by thee ; 'Twill rob the past of vain regret. 87 LYRICS OF LOVE It came an angel voice awaking Thy heart to hear life's virgin hymn Proclaiming forth the dawn time breaking Along the gorgeous eastern rim. Thy harp had else not now been singing Affection's rapture strange and sweet, Nor Nature's glories round thee springing, The self -same story would repeat. Its golden glow thy future gilding, Shall quicken thee with life sublime ; And precious hopes that thou art building, To sun-kissed summits surer climb. A Sentiment of Life. A sentiment of life today I noted as I mused in thought ; And now record it, as there may A valued truth thereby be taught. Why shouldst thou deem thyself to be Less blessed than those of high estate? Thy innate worth is more to thee Than all the treasures of the great. 'Tis what thou art, not what thou hast That maketh. thee of noble mould ; Thy talents truly used shall last When gone are stores of Ophir's gold. 88 LYRICS OF LOVE In wisdom Nature doth divide Her various gifts among us all ; And not to those of rank and pride Alone do her endowments fall. Ofttimes beneath the humblest roof The highest gifts of God we see ; What matter then if cold, aloof, The pampered wealthy stand from thee? Within thy lowly, sweet abode Were nurtured those conspicuous traits That move thee swiftly on the road To sure renown and glory's gates. Then tarry not to idly mourn Slights that the scornful show to thee ; Let such with quiet calm be borne, As doth become thy dignity. Be conscious of thy princely might, Without appearing vain therein; A firm self-confidence is right For lofty souls that long to win. Outstrip the aimless, servile crowd, And make for thee a noble name ; Then shall the haughty one be proud Thy slightest friendship but to claim. 89 LYRICS OF LOVE "The One That I May Love: I care not if her happy eyes Are like the morning's sunny blue Or dark as silent midnight's hue If only her dear heart is wise And filled with love forever true. I care not if her features be Surpassing fair as forest flower; Or are devoid of beauty's dower; If only sweet they smile for me, And bid me rest within love's bower. I care not if her station high, Or humble is, so she but bless My life with heavenly kindliness ; For then the very wintry sky Will softer seem than songs express. vernal days descending clear With hope and rapture from above, Bring ye the one my heart may love ; Then doubly sweet, indeed, and dear, Shall this your latest dawning prove. "I Once was Proud" 1 once was proud and held aloof From humble things ; the cottage roof, Which shelters sweet sincerity, Appealed not then, as now to me — The home of sons the world would see Shield their dear land if put to proof. 90 LYRICS OF LOVE But soft as sound of dawning's dove Came intimation of thy love, O soul divine, to bid me wake To duty, and no more mistake The false for true. 'Twas then I brake The bond of self and soared above. For foolish fame I sighed no more. The scenes that simple seemed before, Became with fairest beauty fraught; And things I once esteemed as naught, Became the subjects of all thought, The idols I did most adore. And I was free from all unrest, And walked the world supremely blest. Within my heart the calm content Of Nature came, and sweetly spent Were then the days ; for love had lent To harshest duties newer zest. Ah, he whose loving lines have limned Life's humble scenes ; whose harp has hymned Their happness, alone hath gained Men's hearts. He who hath not disdained The lowliest flower hath attained Fame boundless as the blue, undimmed. "All Love for Thee Is Gone." Once and forever from me now All love for thee is gone, for thou, With whom alone was the decree, 9i LYRICS OF LOVE Alas, hast willed it so to be ! The smile that made my soul to sing Once on a time, is now its sting; And thou so long its dearest theme, Art now, alas, an idle dream ! Though long I've felt that thou wouldst spurn My love ; still faint the hope did burn That surely thou wouldst not discard All traces of the old regard. But like some ruin of ancient Rome, Where freedom sought, but found no home, Henceforth shall seem my every thought Of thee who set me so at naught. Go where the gay with flatteries fawn ; For they more than the glorious dawn Of love shall please thy simple heart, That in such light can have no part. Those lofty heights, whence with disdain Thou lookest on me, ere long I'll gain; And then perhaps we will compare Who has the clearer title there. But think not thou my heart alone Was left, because thou didst disown Its love ; for ah, a haven more sweet Than thine was bleak is its retreat. Now trust I one like heaven's blue, Whence comes all day love's light so true, So constant, and so wondrous fair, My heart is happy everywhere. 92 LYRICS OF LOVE And as when day to night doth turn The stars above us brighter burn, Her traits in absence still attest How truly my fond soul is blessed. Yet it was well that thou unkind Didst treat my heart ; for now I find That unlike thine, its sympathies Are wide and wondrous as the seas. " When Thou Art Kind to Me." When thou art kind to me, With all the world I am at peace ; And this my heart, like sweet release From wintry blight to vernal beams, Toward sunnier skies upleaping seems. When thou art kind to me, A kindred kindly feeling starts Forth from my bosom toward the hearts Of all around that thrill with love, On earth or in the air above. When thou art kind to me, The scenes of Nature seem so, too ; From happy bird to bending blue ; And like mine own familiar friend, To all my gladness doth attend. When thou art changed to me, The world had too as well forsake. Melodious birds at dawning's break No rapture for my heart retain When it has felt thv cold disdain. 93 LYRICS OF LOVE Then still be kind to me. Ah dearest, do I ask too much To feel within my heart the touch Of just one gleam of tenderness, And know it never will be less? Oh still be kind to me ! To One Beloved. Thy tender soul is love's own bower, Where comes no chilling change of clime ; Where flowers are springing all the time, And warblers build each golden hour. Thy kindness like the morning sun, Which wakes the forest erstwhile dumb. To music wild and wide, doth come To e'en the humblest needy one. My bosom seeks that blissful booth As the dear dove at night her nest ; For only there I find sweet rest, And hear the tones that truly soothe. And all the while thy constancy Abides unchanging as a star Whose radiant beams at evening are The center of the skies to me. There is a thrill of tenderness In thy dark eyes as when I greet The spring, whose coming is more sweet Than speech of seraph could express. 94 LYRICS OF LOVE And thy dear presence can imbue The breast with the same calm content As Nature's self when we have spent The day beneath the undimmed blue. It was with thee I learned to love As I had never loved before ; And like the bird of dawn to soar, And sing through rapturous realms above. And first I learned when lingering there The subtle secret of the touch Of sympathy that means so much To burdened bosoms everywhere. And it was there I learned aright The truth that they who nobly do, Shall more than blood of royal blue, Be crowned with honor's holy light. 'Twas thou who taught me to forsake The thrall of self, and made me strong To stand the wild assaults of wrong Like some great rock where billows break. If all these thoughts which thrill me now Were changed into a fabric fair As splendors of the sunset air, The beauteous image would be thou. So wondrous wise and sweet thou art, That all who lack might come to take Of thee the tender traits which make Akin to heaven the human heart. 95 LYRICS OF LOVE "I Love You" "I love you; oh, I love you!" 'Tis on my lips at break of day, When meadow-larks uplift their lay ; Whether she's with me, or away, 'Tis all this heart of mine can say. "I love you; oh, I love you!" When splendors of the morning stream Across the world it is my theme. From sad defeat it can redeem, And change my gloom to glorious gleam. "I love you; oh, I love you!" The thought still lingers through the hours Of all the day, when dew-kissed flowers Display the beauty of their dowers To mating birds amid the bowers. "I love you; oh, I love you!" 'Tis in my heart when I retire To soothing rest ; the one desire Above all others that can fire The soul that starward would aspire. "I love you; oh, I love you!" And I become thereby more true, And tender unto others, too ; For soul devotion can imbue With sweeter spirit all we do. "I love you; oh, I love you!" A sentence simple as can be, Yet wide with meaning as the sea ; A heaven of happiness to me, If only answered is my plea. 96 LYRICS OF LOVE Love's Faith. Believe thou art untrue? As soon I'd say the blue Of heaven would never smile Again, because the while A gloomy cloud was there. Thee I would never doubt Though all the world without With one accord agree That thy inconstancy Has wronged affection fair. As soon I'd seek deceit In yonder lark whose sweet Celestial note of love Through all the skies above Now carols to its mate. Untrue? O tender heart To think that thus thou art Would prove that love is naught, And every holy thought Delusion desolate ! u When Skies Are Soft: 1 When skies are soft, oh let them be My message bearer, Love, to thee, To say, "There is no thought within His bosom that has ever been The least untrue ; and naught shall win His heart from that same loyalty." 97 LYRICS OF LOVE When clouds have dimmed the morning sun, And gloom has o'er the earth begun To gather, let the absent beams Remind thee, Love, "He so esteems Thy cheering smile, that soulless seems The smile of any other one." Whene'er I see some simple flower, That makes more sweet my strolling hour, It seems thyself, so heavenly fair Of heart; and ah, could I but share Its kindness, Love, what would I care For worldly pride, or worldly power? And when the splendor of the west Has thrilled me with a wild unrest, It seems to show what I desire To be for thee — a soul on fire With lofty longings that aspire To make mankind more truly blest. All Nature, dearest, is intent With tenderness and beauty meant To teach our souls to see aright Sweet thoughts in things that seem but trite To find the love whose holy light Inspires each bird-note heavenward sent. °% " Were Thy Dear Heart but Mine** Were thy dear heart but mine, These bending skies above would beam So sweet toward earth that they would seem As does some lover's waiting arms Whose soft caress the spirit charms. 98 LYRICS OF LOVE Were thy dear heart but mine, These tender thoughts that sigh for thee, Would leap to deeds as fair and free As blossoms of the forest when Sweet spring awakes the world again. Were thy dear heart but mine, A badge of honor I would wear Which would denote me everywhere A new and loyal-bosomed knight Enlisted in the cause of right. Were thy dear heart but mine, These hours with thee, alas, so few, To bliss as boundless as the blue Of heaven would change, and every thought And hope to fullest bloom be brought. Oh that thy heart were mine ! Yet ah, love's melodies were meant Not all the while with sweet content To soothe, but often just to fire The soul's deep purpose and desire. Yet still thy heart is mine ! Its soothing word and soft caress Another one than me may bless ; But its ideal shall ever be The source of all high thought to me. Yea, still thy heart is mine ! 99 LYRICS OF LOVE Loyal Love. O Sweet, say not my ardent heatt For thy dear self would cease to care, If we were but a while apart, And came another truly fair To stroll with me ; for everywhere My source of rapture still thou art. When warblers wing their morning flight Forth from their mates, can we accuse Their little hearts of holding light Love's bonds? Ah, absence but imbues Them with more love, for like the dews They come again to soothe at night. Then never say my love is less Because I thrill with ecstasy At finding one whose tenderness Reminds my waiting heart of thee. For will not our reunion be More sweet than music could express? Watch with me, dear, the skies at dawn. Faint beauties first will softly break; And as our gaze is thither drawn, A widening splendor like a lake Of light arises, which will wake The world from gloom forever gone. 'Twas thus this heart of mine was brought To make surrender to thee, Sweet. A charming grace my fancy caught ; ioo LYRICS OF LOVE Soon smiled a soul without deceit ; Then came thy presence, the complete Ideal my soul so long had sought. And the wide dawning will recede, Before my loyal heart will cease To care for thee, whose every deed Is kindness, every movement peace. Ah, rather say thou wilt increase In sweetness with my nature's need ! r A Christmas Love Lyric, There is one thing that I desire Above all others this glad day — To see the light of love's soft fire Within her eyes, and hear her say, "I will be yours; I will be yours!" There is one gift that I entreat Kind Heaven to send o'er all the rest — To hear her accents whisper sweet As murmured bird notes in the nest, "My heart is yours; my heart is yours!" There is one hope that softly charms And cheers my soul with peace divine — The hope to clasp her in my arms ; And while her heart beats warm with mine, To say, "My own!" to say, "My own!" IOI LYRICS OF LOVE There is one rapture I would share Above this happy season's bliss, Today abounding everywhere — To hear her say, with love's sweet kiss, "Our lives are one; our lives are one!" O Christmas season ushered in With seraph music, woo for me The heart of her I sigh to win ; And ever after shalt thou be My Day of days ; my Day of days ! A Home with Nature. No costly gold, no glittering gem Have I to give, O Love, like them With fortune blest ; but heaven's blue Will shower its sunshine, and the dew Gleam jewel-like, if only you Accept devotion's diadem. No mansion halls where splendors greet Thy gaze I boast ; but just the sweet, Though humble shelter of a heart That will divert each cruel dart Of discontent ; will ne'er depart From your dear side, nor use deceit. No brilliant station far above The world is mine to offer, Love ; But just a bower to cheer and charm — A home with Nature, free from harm ; Where soul communion true and warm ; And sympathy will ample prove. 102 A Home with Nature. LYRICS OF LOVE O heart to mine so much akin, Crowned by thy love, life would begin| Like endless morning unto me, Where warblers carol joyously ; And soon the sweet infinity Of every hope my soul would win. The Dearest Hope Is Yielded. I now know what it is to yield The dearest hope within the breast, E'en when harsh fate has not revealed One soothing reason why 'tis best. And though my heart to yield it bleeds, In the keen anguish of its pain ; I still shall try to think it leads To some yet undiscovered gain. The course of love is often wise, And well, though wildly rough it seem ; Though gloomy be the midnight skies, The morning still may brightly beam. For the deep fountains of our love Are never caused to spring for naught ; Since some sweet purpose far above Our clouded ken thereby is wrought. Though heaven thy love had been to me, Could I have claimed it as my own ; I now shall sing more tenderly Of love because I am alone. 103 LYRICS OF LOVE I wish thee all the happiness That love had meant had it been mine ; For though its boon can never bless My life, I deem it still divine. The Nobler Love. Though elsewhere, dearest, thou hast vowed Thy love, alas, and not to me ; Still calls my burdened breast aloud, And its sad cry is all to thee. Thy tender traits have intertwined Themselves about my life so strong, That with a worship wildly blind To thy dear self I now belong. Though elsewhere shines thy love's sweet heaven, Which hapless fate denied to me, Yet gladly would my all be given Still through the years to shielding thee. About thy way I will attend, To do thee every kindly deed ; And shouldst thou ever need a friend, This heart of mine that hour shall heed. 104 LYRICS OF LOVE " With Thee Away." I leave my home among the hills Because, alas, 'tis torture there To think, beloved, of thee. The silvery ripple of the rills, And every bird note in the air Tells thou art gone from me. I plunge in pleasure and the roar Of busy cities to forget Thy touch that so caressed ; But thy dear image evermore Awakens anguish and regret, And blights what once was blest. I seek release in other eyes, But they reflect the light of thine, And bring me no relief; I set to music all my sighs; But though that music were divine, 'T would but increase my grief. I seek my friends so true and kind To soothe the wound within my heart, And make me glad again ; But ah, their words more surely bind The cords I could not tear apart, And quicken all my pain. There is no solace left me now. The scenes of Nature seem to say : "Without her, what are we?" And crowded cities show but how Sad is the world with thee away ; How cheerless all I see. 105 LYRICS OF LOVE Yet think not, dearest, I desire To make thy poignant grief more keen, By speaking of my own ; For love shall linger with my lyre, And still on thee my soul shall lean, Though now I walk alone. Love's Tribute. There are sad hearts that sigh for thee, Though thou, alas, art far away, And dost not know their love — Hearts which would cross the land or sea, And watch through weary night or day, Their loyalty to prove. There are true souls that like the star Which every evening cheers the west, Would hover where thou art — True souls which, though from thee afar, Still cry to Heaven to make thee blest, And heal thy suffering heart. The world is sweeter where thou dwelt ; Is happier for thy duties done, And speaks thy precious praise. Then though harsh anguish thou hast felt, Despair not, for hope's soothing sun Shall smile in after days. 1 06 LYRICS OF LOVE There is not one in all the throng Of wealth that crowds these busy streets Whose life is rich as thine ; O soul with sympathies so strong ; O breast that for the humblest beats, Thou art indeed divine ! Though sorrow dims thy dear dark eyes, They shall ere long be glad again, Since honors wait for thee. The everlasting hills that rise, And streams that murmur music's strain, Shall say, "How sweet is she!" The souls that felt thy tender touch Remember thee more fondly now And for thy sake strive on ; And God's own holy garlands such As martyrs wear, shall deck thy brow At love's far future dawn. °% Elsie. Is it her step, so softly sweet Descending as of old the stair, That step which thrills me so? Shall I once more my Elsie meet, My Elsie, seraph-like and fair, Who left me long ago? I wonder if she will receive Me gladly as she used to do. When life was all serene ; 107 LYRICS OF LOVE Still as of old in me believe ; Uplift her eyes, so kind and true ; And on my love yet lean. Shall I attune her life once more To simple and sincere delights, The health of every heart ; Go wandering with her as before, The shady dales and sunny heights, Where rills upspringing start? II. My dearest Elsie ! Yea, 'tis she. O dark and sympathetic eyes Smile on me once again, Responsive to love's purest plea; And change the sadness of my sighs To rapture's sweetest strain ! My dearest Elsie let me hear The restful murmur of thy speech That I so long have missed. The cloudiest skies serenely clear, And earth to starry realms doth reach When lovers' lips have kissed. Sit by me as in olden days, And bid my bliss to rebegin, For life has long been sad. Still soothe me with thy tender ways ; For long my Elsie hast thou been The heavenliest hope I've had! 108 The Greek Crisis (April, 1897.) "Shame on the Royal Powers." As we recall today each great event That has enabled us to nobly win From tyrant thralldom and the ceaseless din Of arms our ocean-guarded continent, O Greece, we thrill to think how thou hast spent The years in strife, and now must rebegin To battle for those blessings that have been Our own with scarce a blow. Ah, was it meant For some to share such dear immunities, And then all rights to feebler realms refuse? Shame on the royal Powers that will not use Their sovereignty, which could suppress with ease Thy foeman Despotism, whose base decrees The simplest justice brutally abuse ! °% "Still Firmly Stand" Then noble heroes of the Hellespont, Still firmly stand to your resolve sublime That Crete shall not be trampled in a time When other lands are free. Oh, let no want Of heart in tyrants for a moment daunt 109 THE GREEK CRISIS Your high intent ! The world will not refrain From aiding those who struggle so to gain Sweet Liberty, nor longer leave to taunt, And jeers her fame, immaculately fair. Despite the dallyings of each coward State ; Despite all weapons in the hands of Hate, And Hell against you raised, earth's millions share Your hopes, and will not leave you to your fate, But throng to your support from every where. " This Wrong Should Never Be." Would that the sympathy of the world's great heart Which throbs today for the down-trodden Greek, Could for a while heaven's retribution wreak, And everywhere fierce strife for freedom start — A strife to spread through the remotest part Of the Domain of Despotism, and seek Its dire destruction. Rise, ye lands made bleak So long by tyranny, and soon the mart Of trade shall smile where war and pillage waste ! This state of shameful wrong should never be, While righteous realms retain supremacy. The Isles have sworn they nevermore will taste Oppression, but will have a freedom based On justice, honor, and humanity. THE GREEK CRISIS "Abandon Not Thy Cause.'' Though conquered in the field, yet never cease But seek the wilds where freedom has her home; And strike from there, like lightning from the dome Of heaven, the blow to bring thy sons release. To shackled millions there can be no peace But that of full-triumphant liberty ; And while Oppression's prisoners look to thee,' Abandon not thy cause, heroic Greece ! The world is with thee, though its sovereigns seem Leagued with the foemen of that holy cause. Then fling thy banners forth through all the blue Of spring's sweet skies, with Justice for thy theme ; And every land that loves enlightened laws, Shall stand with thee thy struggle to renew ! °k '■ They Tell Us, Greece." They tell us, Greece, thy glorious fame is gone ; That noble valor dwells no more with thee. But in thy latest strife for liberty, How fair thou art, compared with those who fawn Upon thy heartless foeman, or, withdrawn To safety, watch thy struggle to be free, And burst the bonds of them that shackled be ! in THE GREEK CRISIS Cursed be thy slanderers! The awakening dawn Of days that shame the old is thine again. Thermopylae, and Marathon ! Aye, true, Immortal fields and fames; but to them who Fight not for self, but for their fellow-men, And ask no aid of any even then, The laurel of all laurel wreaths is due ! " These Dastard Realms." Our bosoms bleed for thee as for some heart Left by the one who deeply wronged its love ; And should these skies, which smile so calm above, Change into darkness, and fierce lightnings dart Dire vengeance on the realms which stand apart, While fiendish hordes through all thy borders swarm, Just were the work of heaven's wild, sweeping storm. Fight, though abandoned by the world thou art. Fight, though the hand of help be still refused ! Then should the flowers of freedom's spring which seem Alone with thee, expire, and her fair gleam Fade into night because thou wert abused, These dastard realms would be but rightly used — Which raised no arm of valor to redeem ! 112 THE GREEK CRISIS "Has Ho?ior Faded?" Has honor faded from the human heart, And pity for the helpless now become A byword and a sneer? Aye, else not dumb Would sit the nations while those devils start Afresh their strife infernal where high Art, And holy freedom had their origin. The ties that once made all mankind akin Are lax today because of lucre's mart Why trifle longer, O ye lands? Redeem These deeds of shame, that should have been sublime ! Shall Turkish tyranny still dim the gleam Of a new-dawning century of time? If so, then through the years the saddest theme On human tongue shall be your awful crime ! " When the Strife was Stopped" At last the lands have wakened; freedom's cause, Which seemed abandoned, cries aloud no more ; And sweet the strains that from the classic snore Of Hellas come. Anear the dawning draws When homes shall be secure through better laws; When Justice, that the world so long forebore To honor, shall be loved as ne'er before. The pleading of the poor prevails, and warm applause 113 THE GREEK CRISIS Is heard wherever beats a human heart. The sword of Greece, so nobly raised to smite The tyrant Turk assailing helpless Right, Has waked a thrill that never shall depart ; And on the Powers that stood for her today, May freedom's sunny light smile down for aye ! A Lesson-Giver to the World. Still art thou lesson-giver to thejworld, Though now the lands no longer from thee draw Their lofty thoughts in letters, art, and law — Thou Greece, who though hot shells were at thee hurled, Stood forth undaunted, with thy flags unfurled For more than art, and law, and literature — For liberty which makes the least secure ! What matters it though other realms have whirled On wheels of progress past thee long ago ; When from thy springs the same sweet waters flow That cheer the wronged, the weary, and op- pressed, Whose injuries are still, still unredressed? The broadest empires with their wealth are now Not half so noble nor divine as thou ! 114 Lyrics of Liberty The Noble Beginning. What mean these thunder tones that shake The peace of realms beyond the sea? They mean true men do not forsake Their kindred struggling to be free. With hissing shells that in the night Fill all the skies with lurid flame, Greece has begun the glorious fight To rid our century of its shame. Immortal deeds of days that were Are matched by other deeds sublime — Deeds that when told at morning, stir With wonder earth's remotest clime. From the achievements of this hour Her ancient grandeur rebegins ; And now we wait to see if power And wrong, or holy freedom wins. This side the ocean's dashing foam, O Greece, our bosoms throb for thee ; Aye, none there are who have a home But bid thee fight for liberty. In favored lands where freedom's light Smiles down from skies forever fair, We little think how rich a right Is her sweet sunshine that we share. ii5 LYRICS OF LIBERTY While other realms deprived of these Same rights, still vainly strive therefor; And have through weary centuries Endured annihilating war. But Greece, thy flags today unfurled Shall hasten all mankind's release From tyranny, and to the world The reign of justice and of peace ! Fight till the last base link is riven That has chained down your kindred long ; Though few, yet in the sight of heaven Ye shall be more than millions strong ! Fight till the waves along the shore Shall sound aloud sweet hymns of praise ; Till with your cause the cannon's roar Shall set the world's great heart ablaze ! (April, 1897.) The Fatal Fitiale. These men of modern times are meek As mice. They let the valiant Greek, Through centuries tortured by the Turk, Stand forth for freedom while they shirk Like dastards with their banners furled, The scorn and shame of all the world. This curst "Concert," so called, of theirs Is not composed of stirring airs, Which sound aloud sweet notes to thee, O Freedom, but the harmony Of Mammon's minions who forsake Their fellow men for what they make ! 116 LYRICS OF LIBERTY Watch when the tyrant has o'errun Heroic Hellas ; every one, Though like a Mars for war equipped, Will see the smaller kingdom stripped Of all caprice could wish to rob, Yet with no thrill of pity throb. If Greece must bear this fiendish blow Then friend indeed is changed to foe ; And humankind, depraved by pelf, Seeks but to serve its soulless self ; While all who dare the least dissent Must suffer brutal punishment. And is our land become untrue? When now she neither hearkens to Soft southern breezes that beseech, Nor wild waves breaking on the beach, With warnings that she heed the plea Of Cuba, struggling to be free? But never for submission take This present lull. Deep mutterings shake The future skies ; and wild alarm Shall leap therefrom and bid us arm To blast the curst oppressor's cause, And clear the way for freedom's laws ! (May, 1897.) For Cuban Liberty. Land of our fathers, long enough Hast thou reposed in lethargy, While helpless realms, where storms are rough, 117 LYRICS OF LIBERTY Outstretch their pleading hands to thee. Why sittest thou in silence meek, While cunning cowards at thy door Destruction on our kindred wreak, Like ocean gales along the shore? Shall taunt of tyrants make thee pause While Cuban homes to ashes burn? When calls aloud a people's cause, Such traitorous trifling thou shouldst spurn. A cringing nation cannot win A shadow of the world's respect; Nor wilt thou till thou shalt begin To do as Duty doth direct. Do Mammon's minions, lest they lose A little lucre, bind thy might? Then burst thy thralldom, and abuse No more the holy cause of right. If thou wouldst keep thy record fair, And regent of republics reign, Then stand not idly anywhere That valiant men do kings disdain. Undaunted Cuba will be free, Despite all deeds of power and pelf; Abandoned though she be by thee, She still shall struggle for herself ; This Western world was meant alone For freemen, not the favored few ; And royal rule it will disown While bends above wide heaven's blue! 118 The Cause of Cuba The Wrecking of the Maine. Talk not of lucre as a recompense For outraged honor, and warm heart blood spilt ; Else then not Spain's, but ours will be the guilt. Our conscience is not stifled, nor our sense Of justice dulled. Though war clouds gather dense, And threatening, still shall we continue true, And never yield what now is but our due. Yea, for these sins our sabers in defense Of starving Cuba shall be swiftly drawn. Wedded to peace are we ; but, ah, the brawn Of our right arm can strike with furious might, When sickening wrongs continue in our sight ! And speedier than the night-dispelling dawn, Shall we arise, and put these foes to flight. " When Once Insulted" Not swift are we to wrongfully suspect Another nation of intended ill ; But ah, when once insulted, devil skill Cannot avert the blow that we direct ! Our banner, crimson barred and star-bedecked, Shall force these foul, infernal fiends of Spain 119 THE CAUSE OF CUBA To sue for mercy, or like beasts be slain. No more shall their unhallowed hands infect The holy halls of freedom. Every bird Returning to our fields from Cuba bears The burden of her cry, which shall be heard ; For soon spring's soft, and sweetly murmurous airs Shall swell into a wild and sweeping gale These curst Castilian legions to assail ! When War Must Come. Sweet are the strains of happy birds and streams ; And sweet the ways of study, lore, and art ; Inspiring is the sight of prosperous mart ; And argosies that sail to where the beams Of morning smile, or sunset splendor gleams, Dispensing to the world our goods and grain. But Duty's voice today bids us refrain From these pursuits of peace, and to redeem The sore-oppressed, ere 'tis, alas, too late. Stand back, ye throngs athirst for wealth, and wait! Ye shall not barter while your brothers' blood Is shed like water in your very sight. Desist ! Else Righteous God's avenging flood Of fury shall your guilty spirits smite ! " What is this Boastful Spain?" What is this arrogant, and boastful Spain? A heartless shrewd deceiver that would stab THE CAUSE OF CUBA Whoever dares rebuke her hands which grab In selfish greed her fellow-creatures' gain. Heaven has inscribed on her escutcheon, "Stain!" And Truth has written on it, "Treachery!' Her empire builded here was meant to be A realm where tyrants could unhindered reign ; And glut themselves on subjects sore oppressed. But thou, O proud Republic of the West, Didst rouse to blast her hellish, cunning schemes ; Aye, and today wilt fight till all thy streams Run red with blood, before thou wilt obey Her base behests, or freedom's cause betray ! "The Day For Dallying is Gone." The day for dubious dallying is gone. Thou, Land of Liberty shalt heed the cries Of helpless Cuba. Her sad, hopeless eyes, That scan the darkness for a sign of dawn, Shall see the light. Fleet as a startled fawn The fervor of thy heart now leaps to her. No longer like an anxious, trembling cur Shalt thou shrink back ; for thy keen sword is drawn For justice now, and shall be sheathed no more Till the last alien leaves that sunny shore. Soon shall her valiant-hearted patriots hear The friendly step they've listened for so long — Thy step, O great Republic, come to cheer Her, and to curse the fiends that do her wrong ! 121 THE CAUSE OF CUBA "Arouse, Ye Millions I " Arouse ye millions, from rock-girdled Maine To flowery, far-off California's coast, And sweep into the seas this hireling host Assailing us from tyrant-serving Spain ! Arouse ye sovereign States! the Union's strain Thrills wildly from the bugle's brazen throat; And still The Stars and Stripes above you float. Cleanse from Columbia's shield this fouling stain By impious, old-world wretches printed there. Strike as one man your legioned foes, and tear In shreds the rag they flutter in your face. Yea, show them every one that, by the grace Of Heaven ye will avenge this crime and wrong Wrought by their base and bloody hands so long! United Indeed. The myriad millions of the North and South When liberty is wronged will never lag ; But will fling forth the same dear starry flag Our fathers followed to the cannon's mouth. Then shall we see depart the long, sad drouth Of alienation 'twixt once warring States, As on they go to Glory's flowery gates. The wealthiest magnate with the rough, uncouth Workman shall march in sweeping battle line. The music that inspires us more divine Than ever in our history then shall sound. 122 THE CAUSE OF CUBA Our hearts shall thrill, and our glad pulses bound As ne'er before ; and we shall see begun Indeed the days that make our Union one ! "The Valor of the Past: 1 The valor of the past has waked again Through all the land. The spirit that inspires Us is the same that stirred our noble sires, In earlier days. Aye, when they dared disdain Oppression's rod, think not their sons will feign Affection for the servile hordes that hire Themselves to do a despot's base desire. Our step is quickened by the same sweet strain That thrilled their breasts to battle long ago. Our hearts .are kinder, and our hands more slow To strike than theirs ; but Justice sits secure And honored in her station still today ; And though the world assails it, not less sure We'll follow our dear flag into the fray ! "O War, We Welcome Thee!" O War, we welcome thee, though in 'thy wake Stalks Slaughter glutted with heroic blood. We will not falter though a lava flood Of hate from hell's own hot abysses break; For what of that, when Cuba at the stake Is shackled, and no helper heeds her cry? Determined are we now, and will defy Castilian cannon blasts for freedom's sake. 123 THE CAUSE OF CUBA Our country's call has sounded, and its note Reverberates from forest hill and dale. Loud answering cheers leap from each loyal throat ; And soon her valiant sons shall form and scale The ramparts of Havana and arraign These wretches for their crime against The Maine ! "Ye Foreign Realms!'* Ye foreign realms that stood so idly by When hapless Greece sublimely fought, but fell Before the overwhelming hosts of hell, Behold our starry flag that floats on high — Columbia's answer unto Cuba's cry, And Destiny's decree that all who dwell Anear this Union shall be free as well As we who live beneath its glorious sky. Land of our Fathers, we will follow thee Through awful flame, and gleaming saber stroke, To break asunder this Castilian yoke ; To win this Western world for liberty; And show to kings that though thy borders stream With slaughter, thy right arm shall still redeem ! °k On Certain Foreign Criticism. Charge if ye'will that 'tis but to acquire A new possession that we strike this blow. The taunt shall stay us not, for we will show 124 THE CAUSE OF CUBA That 'tis your breasts that burn with base desire For conquest ; ours alone with freedom's fire. Think not since soulless Europe sits at ease, That we will seal our lips, while tyrants seize And slaughter helpless subjects that aspire To shield their k throats from ^brutal hands of hell. Fret not yourselves with fear that Mammon's spell, Which lusts for broader lands and richer gain, Shall fall on us, as now it shackles you ! For we will fight, whatever may ensue, Till liberty and truth triumphant reign. When Europe Arms. Armed are the realms, and toward the Orient Their martial tramp, it seems, shall soon be heard. To factory and farm shall come the word, "Be still!" Your sturdy strength must now be spent In widening by strife the vast extent' Of selfish empires. Rouse ye! Gird your loins ! The bugle calls to shield the wretch who coins His gold, and not to aid your fellows bent With cruel burdens that they cannot bear. To earth's oppressed these nations say, "Be- ware! Peace is at stake ! 'Twere wrong to interfere !" 125 THE CAUSE OF CUBA But when they see assailed what is more dear Than sweetest liberty — their lust for gold, Not Heaven nor Hell their murderous hands can hold ! °k The Hope of Earth's Oppressed. But thou, Republic, art a nobler State Than selfish empires ; and thy righteous sway Is widening and extending day by day. Love is thy law ; and human hearts that hate These realms which sleep while truth and just- ice wait, Exultant leap to warmly wish thee well ! Thy moral strength shall with restraining spell Fall on the ruler who would desolate For servile ends the lands that live at peace. Ere long shalt thou with but a word release The injured from the fiend who does ^them wrong. Yea, and thy armies, 'though so wondrous strong, Are only marshalled when some fool defies The flag of freedom in our sunny skies ! 126 America's Answer (To Alfred Austin.) I. What though a thousand leagues of billowy- brine Divide us, British brothers, still our blood Is Anglo-Saxon. Love o'erleaps the flood Of sundering seas, and links with bonds divine. Leagued are the sons of that immortal line The whole world through; and as we now await The wild assault of harsh Castilian hate, Our soul exultant thrills to see the sign Of sympathy that bids us to be true. Aye, and with nobler strength shall it imbue Our mighty arm ; and in the battle's blaze Shall still inspire us, till the precious days Of peace return ; when our triumphant cause Shall lead the lands to learn more righteous laws. II. Why should we deem as but "a worn out tale" Our Revolution's record writ with fire, And woeful tears ; when every patriot sire, Who then went forth to face the fiercest hail 127 AMERICA'S ANSWER Of hissing shot and shell that could assail, Showed but this Anglo-Saxon blood we boast — That same stern spirit which doth keep thy coast Secure, O England, while proud empires fail ! For ah, no bitterness now taints our breast! This great Republic of the far-off West Hath thy fair likeness in her lovely face; And in her form thine own perennial grace. Yea, and her lifted eyes, like thine, are clear With freedom's smile, divinely sweet and dear ! 128 On Reported French Enmity to America Alas, and is the land of La Fayette Now leagued against us? She who nobly drew The sword in our behalf, and boldly blew The clarion of liberty that set The earth athrill — ah, can she so forget? In face of frowning foes when friends were few She stood our stay and shield the wild storm through ; And crowned Columbia with the coronet Of stars — the first Republic of the free. And now so false ! Such is the cold world's way. The tenderest, truest friend we have today Tomorrow wrongs us ; and the eyes we see So softly smiling now ere long will glow With that dark hate which deals the dagger- blow! II. Yet still Columbia hath a friend whose breast Beats warm with hers — Beloved Britannia, thine ! 129 FRENCH ENMITY TO AMERICA What though the world may mock her and malign Her lofty aim in aiding the oppressed? The knowledge of thy kindness hath caressed Away her cares ; and freedom's darkened skies Again are clear. Thy heart and hers are wise Through their estrangement: yea, are even blessed. Thy words are dearer, and thy mother smile Is sweeter now since it doth reconcile, And bind her to thy breast forevermore. United are ye now. The sword that slew The allied hosts of tyranny before Can smite them at another Waterloo ! 30 Why Should She Now Be Spared? i. What though she's prostrate ; why should she be spared Who showed no mercy while she proudly reigned? Hard-hearted torturer ; since she so disdained All kindness, let her shoulders now be bared To feel the whips her helpless victims shared. The God of Battles wills it ; He commands To slay this Amalek of modern lands. This haughty devil that so boldly dared Defy His holy justice, let her fall ; And He himself shall mock her if she call. If but one soul abided that was just, Within her borders, Vengeance still might stay The work of slaughter ; but she stands today A Sodom and Gomorrah, His disgust. II. To us His Israel hath He given the sword Of retribution to avenge His own; To change the lamentation and the moan Of captives to rejoicing, at His word ; 131 WHY SHOULD SHE NOW BE SPARED? To fall like lightning on this hellish horde That still befoul dear Freedom's altar-place, And fling harsh insults in her very face. Not till our thundering guns have full restored Sweet Freedom to her shrine again shall Peace Outstretch her wings to bid red slaughter cease. Not until suffering Cuba shall be crowned With sovereignty, and sit amongst the free, Shall war subside ; nay, not till Spain is bound, And banished to her dens beyond the sea! 132 PRINTED BY R. R. DONNELLEY AND SONS COMPANY AT THE LAKESIDE PRESS, CHICAGO, ILL.