Elegies
Two phantoms cross the ocean to my soul;
One steals like moonlight o'er the darkening blue;
One seems to sweep through stormshine to its goal,
Then wild with heartbreak flashes out of view.
But now, so dim with mist the sky and sea,
None cares to stand and watch for them with me;
Yet tost by time and space so far apart,
Brother and Sister! meet within my heart!
One steals like moonlight o'er the darkening blue;
One seems to sweep through stormshine to its goal,
Then wild with heartbreak flashes out of view.
But now, so dim with mist the sky and sea,
None cares to stand and watch for them with me;
Yet tost by time and space so far apart,
Brother and Sister! meet within my heart!
Erinna died, a flame extinguished soon—
For flame she was, of such enchanted fire
As once soared upward on Arabia's noon,
When the last Phœnix vanished from the pyre.
But half a child through all her childish time,
Still half a child in girlhood's strenuous prime,
By Duty's bride-ring with such passion worn,
By Fancy's sparkling, flowery, fairy wand,
That wrought gave wonders in her firm young hand—
By Nature's own sweet science at grey morn
Revealed, in wandering woodland-studies dear—
By these inspired, and ancient lore austere,
And the full heart that ever rushed to meet
The Fair and Good, and worship at their feet—
She lived on heights and knew not they were high,
On fire, and knew not other souls were cold;
She would have learnt it all, but was to die
For flame she was, of such enchanted fire
As once soared upward on Arabia's noon,
When the last Phœnix vanished from the pyre.
But half a child through all her childish time,
Still half a child in girlhood's strenuous prime,
By Duty's bride-ring with such passion worn,
By Fancy's sparkling, flowery, fairy wand,
That wrought gave wonders in her firm young hand—
By Nature's own sweet science at grey morn
Revealed, in wandering woodland-studies dear—
By these inspired, and ancient lore austere,
And the full heart that ever rushed to meet
The Fair and Good, and worship at their feet—
She lived on heights and knew not they were high,
On fire, and knew not other souls were cold;
She would have learnt it all, but was to die
82
