I watched thee when the foe was at our side Ready to strike at him, or thee and me Were safety hopeless rather than divide Aught with one loved, save love and liberty.
I watched thee in the breakers when the rock Received our prow and all was storm and fear And bade thee cling to me through every shock This arm would be thy bark or breast thy bier.
I watched thee when the fever glazed thine eyes Yielding my couch, and stretched me on the ground When overworn with watching, ne'er to rise From thence, if thou an early grave hadst found.
The Earthquake came and rocked the quivering wall And men and Nature reeled as if with wine Whom did I seek around the tottering Hall For thee, whose safety first provide for thine.
And when convulsive throes denied my breath The faintest utterance to my fading thought To thee, to thee, even in the grasp of death My spirit turned. Ah! oftener than it ought.
Thus much and more, and yet thou lov'st me not, And never wilt, Love dwells not in our will Nor can I blame thee, though it be my lot To strongly, wrongly, vainly, love thee still.
She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!
There be none of Beauty's daughters With a magic like Thee; And like music on the waters Is thy sweet voice to me: When, as if its sound were causing The charméd ocean's pausing, The waves lie still and gleaming, And the lull'd winds seem dreaming: And the midnight moon is weaving Her bright chain o'er the deep, Whose breast is gently heaving As an infant's asleep: So the spirit bows before thee To listen and adore thee; With a full but soft emotion, Like the swell of Summer's ocean.