Page:Poems Griffith.djvu/58

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52
THE HERMIT.
The image of the sweet and gentle one
That he had loved so passionately, rose
'Mid all his maddening tortures and his prayers
Between him and his God.

              The hours wore on,
And when at length the first gray light of morn
Dawned in the orient sky, laid his chill
And trembling form upon his couch to check
In sleep forbidden memories. In vain!
The dear, the loved one, pale, and beautiful,
Came softly stealing to his side in dreams,
And bent above him, and her sweet blue eye
Gazed mournfully in his, her tender lip
Was pressed upon his forehead, and her voice,
In tones of more than earthly melody,
Was wildly breathing in his ear again
Love's unforgotten words.

              The sun arose,
And then the hermit's sleep was dreamless; bright