Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 24, Pages 782-783
THE VAUDOIS WIFE.*[1]
"Clasp me a little longer, on the brink
Of fate! while I can feel thy dear caress;
And when this heart hath ceased to beat—Oh! think,
And let it mitigate thy woe's excess,
That Thou hast been to me all tenderness,
And friend to more than human Friendship just.
Oh! by that retrospect of Happiness,
And by the Hopes of an immortal trust,
God shall assuage thy pangs—when I am laid in dust."
Gertrude of Wyoming.
Thy voice is in mine ear, Belov'd!
Thy look is in my heart,
Thy bosom is my resting-place,
And yet I must depart.
Earth on my soul is strong—too strong—
Too precious is its chain,
All woven of thy love, dear Friend!
Yet vain—though mighty—vain!
Thou seest mine eye grow dim, Belov'd!
Thou seest my life-blood flow,—
Bow to the Chastener silently,
And calmly let me go!
A little while between our hearts
The shadowy gulf must lie,
Yet have we for their communing
Still, still Eternity!
Alas! thy tears are on my cheek,
My Spirit they detain,
I know that from thine agony
Is wrung that burning rain.
Best—kindest—weep not! make the pang,
The bitter conflict less—
Oh! sad it is, and yet a joy
To feel thy love's excess!
But calm thee! let the thought of death
A solemn calm restore!
The Voice that must be silent soon,
Would speak to thee once more;
That thou mayst bear its blessing on
Through years of after-life,
A token of consoling love,
Even from this hour of strife.
I bless thee for the noble heart,
The tender and the true,
Where mine hath found the happiest rest
That e'er fond woman's knew;
I bless thee, faithful Friend and Guide,
For my own, my treasured share,
In the mournful secrets of thy soul,
In thy sorrow, in thy prayer.
I bless thee for kind looks and words,
Shower'd on my path like dew;
For all the love in those deep eyes,
A gladness ever new!
- ↑
* The wife of a Vaudois leader, in one of the attacks made on the Protestant hamlets, received a mortal wound, and died in her husband's arms, exhorting him to courage and endurance.
