Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1839/The Farewell
SELIM AND ZULEIKA.
Artist: H. Andrews - Engraved by: H. T. Ryall
THE
DRAWING ROOM SCRAP-BOOK.
THE FAREWELL.
I DARE not look upon that face,
My bark is in the bay,
Too much already its soft grace
Has won from me delay.
A few short hours, and I must gaze
On those sad eyes no more,
A dream will seem the pleasant days
Past on this lonely shore.
I love thee not—my heart has cast
Its inward life away;
The many memories of the past
Leave little for to-day.
Thou art to me a thing apart
From passion, hope, or fear;
Yet ’tis a pleasure to my heart
To know thou art so dear.
It shows me I have something left
Of what youth used to be;
The spirit is not quite bereft
That dreams of one like thee.
I know there is another hour,
When I have left this isle,
When there will be but little power
In thy forgotten smile.
When other eyes may fling their gleams
Above my purple wine;
But little shall I heed the dreams
I once could read in thine.
Yet not the less soft—gentle—kind—
Thy presence has renewed
What long I thought was left behind,
Youth’s glad but softened mood.
Thy heart it is untouched and pure—
I wish it not for mine;
Too feverish and insecure
Would be such world-worn shrine.
For thou dost need such quiet home
As might befit the dove,
Where green leaves droop, and soft winds come,
Where peace attends on love.
I doubt if I shall gaze again
Upon that tranquil brow;
I turn to yonder glittering main,
Impatient for my prow.
Battle and revel, feast and fight,
Spread o’er life’s troubled sea:
Then where will be the calm delight
That here entranceth me?
When other names that are as sweet,
Perhaps have been more dear,
Shall make gay midnight moments fleet
Unlike the midnights here.
When they shall ask for pledge or song,
I shall not name thy name;
For other thoughts to them belong
Than at thy charming came.
Thy pensive influence only brought
The dreams of early years,
What childhood felt—what childhood thought—
Its tenderness—its tears!
Farewell! the wind sets from the shore,
The white foam lights the sea.
If Heaven one blessing have in store,
That blessing light on thee!