But I gained more; for I have found That such a snake's envenomed charm Which it can never wound or harm. It is coiled round my heart to-day. Lest it should hear me and awake. III. FROM "LOST ALICE." ES, dear, our Love is slain; In the cold grave for evermore it lies, Or light our sorrow with its starry eyes: And so regret is vain. One hour of pain and dread, We killed our Love, we took its life away And so we watch it, since that cruel day, We should have seen it shine Long years beside us. Time and Death might try To touch that life divine, Whose strength could every other stroke defy Save only thine and mine. No longing can restore Our dead again. Vain are the tears we weep, Our buried Love: its grave lies dark and deep Between us evermore. IV. FROM ITHIN the kingdom of my Soul I bid you enter, Love, to-day; Submit my life to your control, And give my Heart up to your sway. My Past, whose light and life is flown, One only thought remains apart, There is one Chamber in my heart A haunted Chamber :-long ago Dear, it is haunted. All the rest Is yours; but I have shut that door That I should enter it no more. No more. It is not well to stay With ghosts; their very look would scare Check, if you love me, all regret The haunted Chamber in my Heart. LIGHT AND SHADE. HOU hast done well to kneel and say, "Since he who gave can take away, And bid me suffer, I obey." And also well to tell thy heart But bitter hours come to all: When even truths like these will pall, Then I would have thee strive to see And as material life is planned, That even the loneliest one must stand Dependent on his brother's hand; K |