"In land of Greece in ancient days, "He strewed his thoughts along the gale, He gave his heart to earth and sky, "His soul devout, his shaping mind, "There shone a breezeless autumn "Too fond has been our mutual love 20. 666 Thou must in other pathways roam, But sometimes think that once we met; I seek my lonely cavern home, There still to live, but not forget.' 22. "The tinkling words were hardly said, When sank the fountain's mournful daughter; The youth, to grasp the form that fled, Sprang shrieking down the fatal water. 23. Dear Jane, 'tis but a graceful story, To soothe and not oppress the mind; 24. "And in the autumn's look I trace, I know not why, a threatening stare, Nor e'en thy dear and rosy face Can disenchant the spell-bound air. 25. "Yet well I know 'tis empty dream, And vainer still the legend's voice, For if too fond man's love may seem, "Begone ye fears that round us wait, A Will beyond the Grecian Fate Has given us love's unstinted blessing." 27. Jane listened first with pensive gaze, Then dread disturbed her seeking glance, Though she but half could read the phrase That told the heathen land's romance. But clear she saw, and truly felt, 29. Then first upon her soul it broke 31. As when a child first snaps the band With long, sad smiles, of sorrow bred, The fate-struck lovers left each other, While both at heart more deeply bled Than even for a buried mother. With lines that many winters told, 28. And thus the untroubled, aged man, But when the waste has reached an The gains of thrift are coming in. "And ever I have seen that they While slow his pondering seemed to Have cheeriest walked the open way, wake: 29. "Perhaps you think, dear daughter My wishes neither kind nor wise, "Yet surely I have lived and wrought "I know not who can better learn "And I have seen a many score Of men and women laid in earth; I mostly, too, can tell them o'er, Nor hung their heads in sorrow. 40. "Who does not feel how hard the For one whose life must soon be o'er, 41. "And therefore, Jane, I think it right 42. "Yet, mind you well, I do not say 43. "His health, by study much abused, Seems now, if well I mark, to pine; And then he has been always used] And all their prosperings, e'en from To nurture delicate and fine. birth. 44. "His mother's stipend ceased with her 45. "But stay till winter days be past, "A man who gains and keeps to- It still I find your liking last, gether, Is like the tree that yearly grows, That, stout and strong in wintry weather, A goodly crop in summer shows. Thus wandered round his maze of The long-experienced man; 47. With eyes upon the table bent, 48. And when of sinking health he spoke, With anguish more than dread But when the closing promise came The old man's eye no more they feared. |