22
A LITTLE HISTORY.
There was a bridal brave and gay,
Wine, music of guitars,
Laughter, and dancing on the turf
Beneath the midnight stars.
Wine, music of guitars,
Laughter, and dancing on the turf
Beneath the midnight stars.
She gave her dainty hand away;
And he was grave and tall,
White-haired,—a proud aristocrat,—
A Croesus,—that was all.
And he was grave and tall,
White-haired,—a proud aristocrat,—
A Croesus,—that was all.
That night we met beside the spring
Where oft we'd played of old;
The young moon gemmed her brow with pearl,
And kissed her hair's dun gold.
Where oft we'd played of old;
The young moon gemmed her brow with pearl,
And kissed her hair's dun gold.
My eyes spoke to her! all my life
Of stern despair, and pain,
Rushed up to clamor at my lips,—
I crushed it back again.
Of stern despair, and pain,
Rushed up to clamor at my lips,—
I crushed it back again.
But for one moment heart read heart!
Her cheeks' glow waned and fled;
She stood before me cold and white
As marble o'er the dead.
Her cheeks' glow waned and fled;
She stood before me cold and white
As marble o'er the dead.
Oh, God! 'twere sin to kiss her mouth,
Or touch with mine her hand!
I was a low-born farmer boy,—
She lady of the land!
Or touch with mine her hand!
I was a low-born farmer boy,—
She lady of the land!
Now, what to me are trees and flowers,
And songs of summer birds?
What music comes to me in winds,
Or low of distant herds?
And songs of summer birds?
What music comes to me in winds,
Or low of distant herds?
