676 THE YOUXG POET'S FIRST LOVE. 



and important word is used, demonstrates the acceptation and sh.ido 

 of meaning peculiar to the term ; and, by deriving the sense of an au- 

 thor's expression from the testimony of his own context, invests the 

 interpretation with a stamp of certainty far more satisfactory, at least 

 in the majority of cases, than can belong to glossarial notes. In fact,, 

 the difference between the two modes is this : in the one case, the 

 meaning of the author is fixed by the annotator ; and in the other, he 

 is suffered to be his own interpreter. 



THE YOUNG POET'S FIRST LOVE. 



****** 

 FOR weeks, from morn till sun had set, 



I walked with restless pace, 

 From street to street, nor ever met 



A single cheering face, 

 Save one a portrait beautiful ! 



A maiden's features mild, 

 Placed in a dusty window dull, 



Where sunshine never smiled. 



And there I stood for hours, and gazed 



Until my brain became 

 With bright delirious fancies raised, 



And burned with hidden flame ; 

 Until I thought each feature rife 



With animation high, 

 And that the very soul of life 



Was waking in the eye. 



I wished to be alone, alone 



With that beloved face, 

 Where other look might ne'er be thrown 



To dim its lovely grace ; 

 But still some careless passer by 



Would come with stride of might, 

 And hide the glory of her eye 



A moment from my sight. 



That picture was my earliest love, 



My most delightful dream, 

 The raiser of my thoughts above, 



To fond poetic theme: 

 The dusty window was forgot, 



The darkness all around ; 

 And boyish fervour made the spot 



A lover's holy ground. 

 That portrait lies before me now, 



Still beautiful and meek ; 

 But sorrow's lines upon my brow 



Of different image speak ; 

 The world for me is cold and void, 



Ambition's cup is full ; 

 O for that blessed dream beside 



The dusty window dull ! 



W. M. 



