MEMENTOS1
Arranging long-locked drawers and shelves Of cabinets, shut up for years, What a strange task we've set ourselves！ How still the lonely room appears！ How strange this mass of ancient treasures, Mementos of past pains and pleasures； These volumes, clasped with costly3 stone, With print all faded, gilding4 gone；
These fans of leaves from Indian trees—— These crimson5 shells, from Indian seas—— These tiny portraits, set in rings—— Once, doubtless, deemed such precious things； Keepsakes bestowed6 by Love on Faith, And worn till the receiver's death, Now stored with cameos, china, shells, In this old closet's dusty cells.
I scarcely think, for ten long years, A hand has touched these relics7 old； And, coating each, slow-formed, appears The growth of green and antique mould.
All in this house is mossing over； All is unused, and dim, and damp； Nor light, nor warmth, the rooms discover—— Bereft9 for years of fire and lamp.
The sun, sometimes in summer, enters The casements10, with reviving ray； But the long rains of many winters Moulder11 the very walls away.
And outside all is ivy12, clinging To chimney, lattice, gable grey； Scarcely one little red rose springing Through the green moss8 can force its way. Unscared, the daw and starling nestle, Where the tall turret13 rises high, And winds alone come near to rustle14 The thick leaves where their cradles lie,
I sometimes think, when late at even I climb the stair reluctantly, Some shape that should be well in heaven, Or ill elsewhere, will pass by me.
I fear to see the very faces, Familiar thirty years ago, Even in the old accustomed places Which look so cold and gloomy now,
I've come, to close the window, hither, At twilight15, when the sun was down, And Fear my very soul would wither16, Lest something should be dimly shown,
Too much the buried form resembling, Of her who once was mistress here； Lest doubtful shade, or moonbeam trembling, Might take her aspect, once so dear.
Hers was this chamber17； in her time It seemed to me a pleasant room, For then no cloud of grief or crime Had cursed it with a settled gloom；
I had not seen death's image laid In shroud18 and sheet, on yonder bed. Before she married, she was blest—— Blest in her youth, blest in her worth； Her mind was calm, its sunny rest Shone in her eyes more clear than mirth.
And when attired19 in rich array, Light, lustrous21 hair about her brow, She yonder sat, a kind of day Lit up what seems so gloomy now. These grim oak walls even then were grim； That old carved chair was then antique； But what around looked dusk and dim Served as a foil to her fresh cheek； Her neck and arms, of hue22 so fair, Eyes of unclouded, smiling light； Her soft, and curled, and floating hair, Gems23 and attire20, as rainbow bright.
Reclined in yonder deep recess24, Ofttimes she would, at evening, lie Watching the sun； she seemed to bless With happy glance the glorious sky. She loved such scenes, and as she gazed, Her face evinced her spirit's mood； Beauty or grandeur25 ever raised In her, a deep-felt gratitude26. But of all lovely things, she loved A cloudless moon, on summer night, Full oft have I impatience27 proved To see how long her still delight Would find a theme in reverie, Out on the lawn, or where the trees Let in the lustre28 fitfully, As their boughs29 parted momently, To the soft, languid, summer breeze. Alas30！ that she should e'er have flung Those pure, though lonely joys away—— Deceived by false and guileful31 tongue, She gave her hand, then suffered wrong； Oppressed, ill-used, she faded young, And died of grief by slow decay.
Open that casket-look how bright Those jewels flash upon the sight； The brilliants have not lost a ray Of lustre, since her wedding day. But see-upon that pearly chain—— How dim lies Time's discolouring stain！ I've seen that by her daughter worn： For, ere she died, a child was born；—— A child that ne'er its mother knew, That lone2, and almost friendless grew； For, ever, when its step drew nigh, Averted32 was the father's eye； And then, a life impure33 and wild Made him a stranger to his child： Absorbed in vice34, he little cared On what she did, or how she fared. The love withheld35 she never sought, She grew uncherished——learnt untaught； To her the inward life of thought Full soon was open laid. I know not if her friendlessness Did sometimes on her spirit press, But plaint she never made. The bookshelves were her darling treasure, She rarely seemed the time to measure While she could read alone. And she too loved the twilight wood And often, in her mother's mood, Away to yonder hill would hie, Like her, to watch the setting sun, Or see the stars born, one by one, Out of the darkening sky. Nor would she leave that hill till night Trembled from pole to pole with light； Even then, upon her homeward way, Long——long her wandering steps delayed To quit the sombre forest shade, Through which her eerie36 pathway lay. You ask if she had beauty's grace？ I know not——but a nobler face My eyes have seldom seen； A keen and fine intelligence, And, better still, the truest sense Were in her speaking mien37. But bloom or lustre was there none, Only at moments, fitful shone An ardour in her eye, That kindled38 on her cheek a flush, Warm as a red sky's passing blush And quick with energy. Her speech, too, was not common speech, No wish to shine, or aim to teach, Was in her words displayed： She still began with quiet sense, But oft the force of eloquence39 Came to her lips in aid； Language and voice unconscious changed, And thoughts, in other words arranged, Her fervid40 soul transfused41 Into the hearts of those who heard, And transient strength and ardour stirred, In minds to strength unused, Yet in gay crowd or festal glare, Grave and retiring was her air； 'Twas seldom, save with me alone, That fire of feeling freely shone； She loved not awe's nor wonder's gaze, Nor even exaggerated praise, Nor even notice, if too keen The curious gazer searched her mien. Nature's own green expanse revealed The world, the pleasures, she could prize； On free hill-side, in sunny field, In quiet spots by woods concealed42, Grew wild and fresh her chosen joys, Yet Nature's feelings deeply lay In that endowed and youthful frame； Shrined in her heart and hid from day, They burned unseen with silent flame. In youth's first search for mental light, She lived but to reflect and learn, But soon her mind's maturer might For stronger task did pant and yearn43； And stronger task did fate assign, Task that a giant's strength might strain； To suffer long and ne'er repine, Be calm in frenzy44, smile at pain.
Pale with the secret war of feeling, Sustained with courage, mute, yet high； The wounds at which she bled, revealing Only by altered cheek and eye；
She bore in silence——but when passion Surged in her soul with ceaseless foam45, The storm at last brought desolation, And drove her exiled from her home.
And silent still, she straight assembled The wrecks46 of strength her soul retained； For though the wasted body trembled, The unconquered mind, to quail47, disdained48.
She crossed the sea——now lone she wanders By Seine's, or Rhine's, or Arno's flow； Fain would I know if distance renders Relief or comfort to her woe49.
Fain would I know if, henceforth, ever, These eyes shall read in hers again, That light of love which faded never, Though dimmed so long with secret pain.
She will return, but cold and altered, Like all whose hopes too soon depart； Like all on whom have beat, unsheltered, The bitter blasts that blight50 the heart.
No more shall I behold51 her lying Calm on a pillow, smoothed by me； No more that spirit, worn with sighing, Will know the rest of infancy52.
If still the paths of lore53 she follow, 'Twill be with tired and goaded54 will； She'll only toil55, the aching hollow, The joyless blank of life to fill.
And oh！ full oft, quite spent and weary, Her hand will pause, her head decline； That labour seems so hard and dreary56, On which no ray of hope may shine.
Thus the pale blight of time and sorrow Will shade with grey her soft, dark hair； Then comes the day that knows no morrow, And death succeeds to long despair.
So speaks experience, sage57 and hoary58； I see it plainly, know it well, Like one who, having read a story, Each incident therein can tell.
Touch not that ring； 'twas his, the sire Of that forsaken59 child； And nought60 his relics can inspire Save memories, sin-defiled.
I, who sat by his wife's death-bed, I, who his daughter loved, Could almost curse the guilty dead, For woes61 the guiltless proved.
And heaven did curse——they found him laid, When crime for wrath62 was rife63, Cold——with the suicidal blade Clutched in his desperate gripe.
'Twas near that long deserted64 hut, Which in the wood decays, Death's axe65, self-wielded, struck his root, And lopped his desperate days.
You know the spot, where three black trees, Lift up their branches fell, And moaning, ceaseless as the seas, Still seem, in every passing breeze, The deed of blood to tell.
They named him mad, and laid his bones Where holier ashes lie； Yet doubt not that his spirit groans66 In hell's eternity67.
But, lo！ night, closing o'er the earth, Infects our thoughts with gloom； Come, let us strive to rally mirth Where glows a clear and tranquil68 hearth69 In some more cheerful room.
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