Poems (Welby)/I Saw Thee but a Moment
I SAW THEE BUT A MOMENT.
I saw thee but a moment—thou sad and lovely one!
I saw thee but a moment—yet my heart was then undone!
Thou didst dawn upon my spirit, in all thy bloom and truth,
A passing vision given to my warm and yearning youth.
I saw thee but a moment—yet my heart was then undone!
Thou didst dawn upon my spirit, in all thy bloom and truth,
A passing vision given to my warm and yearning youth.
I saw thee but a moment—'twas 'mid the festive throng.
Some happy youths were round thee—they had pleaded for a song—
The last guests were departing—and I, too, had said "good night,"
When thy gush of song o'ertook me—and chained me with delight!
Some happy youths were round thee—they had pleaded for a song—
The last guests were departing—and I, too, had said "good night,"
When thy gush of song o'ertook me—and chained me with delight!
I turned—and oh that vision!—thy beauty, fair unknown!
Still thrills me with a power that I almost dread to own—
There were brighter ones around thee in that gay and brilliant hall.
But the sweetest face among them, was the saddest face of all!
Still thrills me with a power that I almost dread to own—
There were brighter ones around thee in that gay and brilliant hall.
But the sweetest face among them, was the saddest face of all!
I know not what came o'er me in the tumult of that hour—
There were burning thoughts within me—of passion and of power!
How sweetly throbbed my bosom, as I listened to thy lay,
But my peace of heart was over, ere the last note died away!
There were burning thoughts within me—of passion and of power!
How sweetly throbbed my bosom, as I listened to thy lay,
But my peace of heart was over, ere the last note died away!
I know not what came o'er me 'mid that hushed and listening band,
As I strove to nerve the spirit that thy music had unmann'd.
I heard some murmured praises—and thy low and sweet replies—
While harp—and throng—and singer—all swam before my eyes!
As I strove to nerve the spirit that thy music had unmann'd.
I heard some murmured praises—and thy low and sweet replies—
While harp—and throng—and singer—all swam before my eyes!
The siren-song was ended—and I paused to ask thy name—
At the memory of that moment, even now, I blush for shame;
But the wild blood of my boyhood throbbed at my bosom's core—
I heard that thou wert wedded—and fainted on the floor!
At the memory of that moment, even now, I blush for shame;
But the wild blood of my boyhood throbbed at my bosom's core—
I heard that thou wert wedded—and fainted on the floor!
The time is past and over—and my dreams have changed since then—
I have learned to mask my spirit, in my intercourse with men!
But the feelings of that moment—unconscious of control—
Still send their glowing current like lava through my soul!
I have learned to mask my spirit, in my intercourse with men!
But the feelings of that moment—unconscious of control—
Still send their glowing current like lava through my soul!
The time is past and over—and though madness it may be—
There are moments still, lost beauty! when I pause to think of thee!
When I seem to feel thy glances—as they thrilled my heart of yore—
But the memory hath unmann'd me—I must think of thee no more!
There are moments still, lost beauty! when I pause to think of thee!
When I seem to feel thy glances—as they thrilled my heart of yore—
But the memory hath unmann'd me—I must think of thee no more!