LAËL AND LAURA.
63
Such love the greatest misery would bring,
And make its object but a loathèd thing.
Oh! once I thought that in thy heart combined
Were all the noble traits within mankind;
Oh! then it seemed that on this sinful earth
Celestial love had found its mortal birth!
And was it wrong to place my hopes—my all—
So high perforce they could not fail to fall?
And was it wrong to worship at such shrine—
To raise thine image to a place divine?
Ah! so't would seem; for now the fane is
Despair—'s rank weeds the crumbling ruin mark."
And make its object but a loathèd thing.
Oh! once I thought that in thy heart combined
Were all the noble traits within mankind;
Oh! then it seemed that on this sinful earth
Celestial love had found its mortal birth!
And was it wrong to place my hopes—my all—
So high perforce they could not fail to fall?
And was it wrong to worship at such shrine—
To raise thine image to a place divine?
Ah! so't would seem; for now the fane is
Despair—'s rank weeds the crumbling ruin mark."
Laël:—
"O Lora, listen! hark what I shall say!
I burn for thee—I long—nay, hear me—stay!"
"O Lora, listen! hark what I shall say!
I burn for thee—I long—nay, hear me—stay!"
