( '264 ) 



LINES TO MARGARET 



■JVRITTBN ON MY RETURN TO ENGLAND. 



{Intended for the Third Volume of " England, a Poem.") 



Lo, now the Autumn comes again, and I 

 Must end where I hegan, with thoughts of thee : 

 A gloom hath fallen upon the summer sky ; 

 There is a shadow droopeth on the sea, 

 And heauty hath departed, strength and majesty ! 



When I left England, all the woods were green ; 

 The harvests roU'd with wealth, the flowers were brigh| ; 

 The birds were singing in their love serene ; 

 There was a constant motion of delight. 

 That filled the soul with joy, and drove away the night. 



When I return again, the corn is gone. 

 The golden fruitage is all pass'd away, 

 The ash-tree stands in solemn gloom alone ; 

 The fern is withered, and the heath-bell's sway 

 Is over, — every hedge in scarlet meets the day. 



Music hath left the hills, there is a tone 

 Of lamentation sounding through each wood ; 

 The south wind's voice is now a weary moan, 

 And nature weeps in every solitude 

 O'er her departed lovers, and her wither'd brood. 



Change, change, hath fallen every where : but thou. 

 Beloved one, art never changed to me. 

 Thou art the same — the same thy beauteous brow. 

 Thy glancing eyes, thy footsteps light and free. 

 Thy soul — that beameth out with love and liberty ! 



Thou art a vision, in this world's dark night. 

 Of peace and splendour : th ou art as a gleam 

 From heaven — a joy — a wonder — a delight — 

 The glory and the splendour of a dream — 

 "The lover's adoration, and the poet's theme ! 



Come to me from the blue-reposing sky I 

 Come to me. Oh ! beloved one, and lean 

 Thy snow-white bosom, and thy forehead high, 

 Upon thy worshipper ! — calm and serene — 

 Even like a seraph come, and beautify this scene ! 



