Freston
133
To seek the portals of almighty Rome,—
There to win wealth, and power, and write his name
Among the great ones, on the scroll of Fame;
And then, when laurel-leaves are fairly won,
To come, the truest knight beneath the sun,
For her, his lady fair; and far away
To bear her, to those realms of childhood's day,
Where he'll be king, and she,—the fairest queen
That e'er in fairy kingdom yet was seen.
There to win wealth, and power, and write his name
Among the great ones, on the scroll of Fame;
And then, when laurel-leaves are fairly won,
To come, the truest knight beneath the sun,
For her, his lady fair; and far away
To bear her, to those realms of childhood's day,
Where he'll be king, and she,—the fairest queen
That e'er in fairy kingdom yet was seen.
And so they parted; and each lonely day,
She prayed for him, who struggled far away.
And words, and tender messages would come,
To soothe the loneliness, from distant Rome;
With heart shut, dreaming, through a world of joy,
She walks unheeding, longing for the Boy.
******
And now, the words are colder when they come,
The message shorter; and the way to Rome
Seems endless; and she speaks his name no more;
While each long silence leaves her true heart sore.
She prayed for him, who struggled far away.
And words, and tender messages would come,
To soothe the loneliness, from distant Rome;
With heart shut, dreaming, through a world of joy,
She walks unheeding, longing for the Boy.
******
And now, the words are colder when they come,
The message shorter; and the way to Rome
Seems endless; and she speaks his name no more;
While each long silence leaves her true heart sore.
She walks as in a shadow, dark with fear;
But still the star of hope shines, bright and clear,—
But still the star of hope shines, bright and clear,—
