Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1840/L’Envoi

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Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1840 (1839)
by Mary Howitt
L’Envoi
2394714Letitia Elizabeth Landon (L. E. L.) in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1840 — L’Envoi1839Mary Howitt

L’ENVOI.

Farewell, farewell! Thy latest word is spoken:
    The lute thou lovedst hath given its latest tone;
Yet not without a lingering, parting token
    Hast thou gone from us, young and gifted one!
And what in love thou gavest, here we treasure,
    Sweet words of song penned in those far-off wilds,
And pure and righteous thoughts, in lofty measure,
    Strong as a patriot's, gentle as a child's.
Here shrine we them, like holy relics keeping,
    That they who loved thee may approach and read;
May know thy latest thoughts; may joy in weeping
    That thou wast worthy to be loved indeed!
Farewell, farewell! And as thy heart could cherish
    For love, a flower, the sere leaf of a tree,—
So from these pages shall not lightly perish
    Thy latest lays—memento flowers of thee!

M. H.