A QUAS HUMILIS TENERO STYLUS OLIM EFFUDIT IN AVO, OMNIA PAULATIM CONSUMIT LONGIOR ETAS, VIVENDOQUE SIMUL MORIMUR, RAPIMURQUE MANENDO. IPSE MIHI COLLATUS ENIM NON ILLE VIDEBOR: FRONS ALIA EST, MORESQUE ALII, NOVA MENTIS IMAGO, PECTORE NUNC GELIDO CALIDOS MISEREMUR AMANTES, JAMQUE ARSISSE PUDET. VETERES TRANQUILLA TUMULTUS MENS HORRET RELEGENSQUE ALIUM PUTAT ISTA LOCUTUM. PETRARCH. LOVE.. ALL thoughts, all passions, all delights, Whatever stirs this mortal frame, Are all but ministers of Love, And feed his sacred flame. Oft in my waking dreams do I When midway on the mount I lay, The Moonshine, stealing o'er the scene, She leant against the armed man, Few sorrows hath she of her own, My hope! my joy! my Genevieve! She loves me best, whene'er I sing The songs that make her grieve. I play'd a soft and doleful air, An old rude song, that suited well She listen'd with a flitting blush, I told her of the Knight that wore I told her how he pined; and ah! The deep, the low, the pleading tone With which I sang another's love, Interpreted my own. She listen'd with a flitting blush, With downcast eyes, and modest grace; And she forgave me, that I gazed Too fondly on her face! But when I told the cruel scorn That craz'd that bold and lovely Knight, And that he cross'd the mountain-woods, Nor rested day nor night; That sometimes from the savage den, And sometimes from the darksome shade, And sometimes starting up at once In green and sunny glade, There came and look'd him in the face An angel beautiful and bright; And that he knew it was a Fiend, This miserable Knight! And that unknowing what he did, And sav'd from outrage worse than death The Lady of the Land! And how she wept, and claspt his knees; And how she tended him in vain And ever strove to expiate The scorn that crazed his brain. And that she nursed him in a cave; His dying words-but when I reach'd All impulses of soul and sense Had thrill'd my guileless Genevieve; The music, and the doleful tale, And hopes, and fears that kindle hope, An undistinguishable throng, And gentle wishes long subdued, Subdued and cherish'd long! |