Poems (Truesdell)/Edith to Morton
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
An interview with me;
Indignant shame would flush my cheek
If I should look on thee!