CATARINA TO CAMOENS An Early Draft I My cheek hath paled its rose away, My lips can smile no more, And wert thou near me, would'st thou say, "I love thee" as before? When dull the eyes once dreamed to be "The sweetest eyes thou e'er didst see." II What time I heard that song of thine Amid my courtly days Though others praised their starlike shine, I joyed not at the praise. I only joyed that they should be "The sweetest eyes thou e'er didst see." III And well I know, wert thou beside Thy Cat'rine's dying bed, Though quenched all their light and pride, Such words would still be said Her loving eyes still seeme to thee 1 IV When wilt thou come? When I am gone Where all unpassioned are Where e'en thy voice of tender tone Will cause no pulse to stir When shroud and stone will hide with me V And wilt thou ever, ever keep That band which bound mine hair? * Clasp it, dear love, but do not weep Too long and wildly there; For still from Heav'n shall look on thee VI But now they are not yet in Heav'n, Then other eyes may seem to thee VII Ah me! can death so soon begin * Which she gave to him at their parting. That I should weep because I ween Thou mayst be happy still?— Heaven bless whatever eyes may be The sweetest eyes thou e'er shalt see! Mr. Forman's deep interest in, and admiration for, Elizabeth Barrett Browning is not of recent origin, as will be seen by the following hitherto unpublished lines which he has very kindly allowed us to print as a fitting conclusion to this little book. They are addressed TO LAURA BUXTON FORMAN, WITH A REPRINT OF THE 1st EDITION OF "AURORA LEIGH" EDITED FOR THE "TEMPLE CLASSICS" AND RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLISHER IN TIME FOR HER BIRTHDAY. I WHEN first we read "Aurora Leigh' We sat on Richmond Green to do it. I looked at you and you at me When both should have been looking through it. II "November 8th of '66" We read it from the 5th edition: The book lies there, the date to fix, And still in excellent condition. |