Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1837/Regatta,—Windermere Lake

by Letitia Elizabeth Landon

77

FERRY HOUSE REGATTA, WINDERMERE LAKE.

Artist: T. Allom - Engraved by: J. Starling

REGATTA,—WINDERMERE LAKE.

With sunshine on their canvass,
    And sunshine at their side—
Like court beauties at a pageant,
    The stately vessels glide.

The sound of shout and music
    Comes from the boats behind;
And the peal of youthful laughter
    Makes glad the summer wind.

But we will not go with them,
    My loved one and my own;
We never are so happy
    As when we are alone.

Yet when the purple shadows
    Of the quiet eve come on,
And the ripple of those vessels
    From each still wave is gone:—

When stars with silver footsteps
    Pass like angels o’er the sky;
When the breath of leaf and blossom
    To the lulling winds reply:—

Then let our boat, my sweet one!
    To yonder shore depart,
When not a sound is louder
    Than our own beating heart.

Like a dream beneath the moonlight,
    Our fairy float will be;
Let the weary crave the many—
    I ask only for thee!