the story of two lives.
5
We loved. She was an orphan, poor and young,
My mother's ward; we to each other clung,
Playmates for years in yon dark ancient hall.
We loved, were parted, who dares blame our fall?
I bore a wealthy, old, patrician name,
My mother swore it should be kept from shame;
She thrust her from my side. Forgive me, Sweet!
Would God that day I perished at thy feet!
My mother's ward; we to each other clung,
Playmates for years in yon dark ancient hall.
We loved, were parted, who dares blame our fall?
I bore a wealthy, old, patrician name,
My mother swore it should be kept from shame;
She thrust her from my side. Forgive me, Sweet!
Would God that day I perished at thy feet!
Time passed, and with it love. Alas! since then
My life has been as lives of other men:
Pleasure and pride, ambition, some success,
And a heart flattered into selfishness.
The past I soon forgot, as all men can:
Didst thou? but thou wert woman; I a man.
My life has been as lives of other men:
Pleasure and pride, ambition, some success,
And a heart flattered into selfishness.
The past I soon forgot, as all men can:
Didst thou? but thou wert woman; I a man.
And once again we met; pearls gemmed thy hair,
Thy wasted cheek was pale, but yet how fair!
Doubting and eager, in thy hollow eyes
Methought I saw a struggling memory rise.
I turned away. "Thank Heaven," I said, "I'm free,
I have outgrown that weakness." Pharisee!
Because I flung a flower upon the road
For other men to trample—I thanked God!
Thy wasted cheek was pale, but yet how fair!
Doubting and eager, in thy hollow eyes
Methought I saw a struggling memory rise.
I turned away. "Thank Heaven," I said, "I'm free,
I have outgrown that weakness." Pharisee!
Because I flung a flower upon the road
For other men to trample—I thanked God!
