24 GARDENS, WREATHS, &c. 



We parted, lady ! all night long 



Thine ear to thrill with dance and song j 



And I to weep, that I was born 



A thing thou scarce would deign to scorn 



And, lady, now that years have past, 

 My barque has reached the shore at last ; 

 The gales that filled her ocean wing 

 Have chilled and shrunk thy hasty spring j 

 And eye to eye, and brow to brow, 

 "I stand before thy presence now; 

 Thy lip is smoothed, thy voice is sweet, 

 Thy warm hand proffered when we meet. 



Nay, lady ! 't is not now for me 

 To droop the lid, or bend the knee ; 

 I seek thee, oh ! thou dost not shun, 

 I speak — thou listenest like a nun; 

 I ask thy smile — thy lip uncurls, 

 Too liberal of its flashing pearls : 

 Thy tears — thy lashes sink again, 

 My Hebe turns to Magdalen ! 



Oh, changing youth ! that evening hour 

 Looked down on ours, the bud, the flower^ 

 One faded in its virgin soil. 

 And one was nursed in tears and toil ; 

 Thy leaves were opening one by one, 

 While mine were opening to the sun ; 



