Poems (Truesdell)/Edith to Morton

by Helen Truesdell

EDITH TO MORTON.

"Had he died, I would have lamented him; had he proved false, I would have forgiven him: but a traitor to his country, I will tear him from my heart!"—Old Mortality.

If thou hadst died, I would have wept
 With sorrow o'er thy tomb,
And sought the fairest flowers of earth,
 To shed their early bloom

Around thy lowly resting-place;
 I would have wept with tears,—
And pain, and sorrow, grief, and care,
 Had made up all my years.

Nay, hadst thou e'en proved false to me,
 I would have loved thee on,
And thought of all thy tenderness
 In days 'twere past and gone.

But recreant to thy dearest trust,
 A traitor to thy king!—
I shame me that an act of thine,
 Could tears of sorrow bring

From out the heart that's deeply vowed
 Thy image to forget,
Though every fiber of the soul
 Be strung with deep regret.

Then seek not, traitor! dare not seek
 An interview with me;
Indignant shame would flush my cheek
 If I should look on thee!