THE BLIND GIRL'S LAMENT.
I sit beneath the grape-vine, that o'ercreepeth
The humble arch above our cottage door,
While on its purple clusters softly sleepeth
The holy radiance that the moonbeams pour;
The joyous song-bird in the starlight singeth
Unto the dreaming buds its vesper hymn,
But not a single ray of gladness springeth
Within my heart—alas! my eye is dim.
The humble arch above our cottage door,
While on its purple clusters softly sleepeth
The holy radiance that the moonbeams pour;
The joyous song-bird in the starlight singeth
Unto the dreaming buds its vesper hymn,
But not a single ray of gladness springeth
Within my heart—alas! my eye is dim.
I know the hour when silent-footed even
Puts on her shadowy mantle light and fair,
When, as she waves her wand o'er earth and heaven,
The stars float up within the soft blue air;
'T is then I fling aside my long loose tresses
Unto the kisses of the wanton wind,
And strive to sing and smile, but ah! there presses
A gloomy pall upon me—I am blind.
Puts on her shadowy mantle light and fair,
When, as she waves her wand o'er earth and heaven,
The stars float up within the soft blue air;
'T is then I fling aside my long loose tresses
Unto the kisses of the wanton wind,
And strive to sing and smile, but ah! there presses
A gloomy pall upon me—I am blind.
O! could I steal forth, when the daylight fadeth
From rock and tree, to greet the summer eves,
To watch the primrose, that from sunlight shadeth
Its golden cup, unfold its twilight leaves,
From rock and tree, to greet the summer eves,
To watch the primrose, that from sunlight shadeth
Its golden cup, unfold its twilight leaves,
