OF LOVE[51] (1821)

Dearest, thy discourses steal
From my bosom's deep, my heart
How can I from thee conceal
My delight, my sorrow's smart?

Dearest, when I hear thy lyre
From its chains my soul is free.
To the holy angel quire
From the earth, O let us flee!

[Illustration: MEMORIES OF YOUTH]

Dearest, how thy music's charms
Waft me dancing through the sky!
Let me round thee clasp my arms,
Lest in glory I should die!

Dearest, sunny wreaths I wear,
Twined around me by thy lay.
For thy garlands, rich and rare,
O how can I thank thee? Say!

Like the angels I would be
Without mortal frame,
Whose sweet converse is like thought,
Sounding with acclaim;

Or like flowers in the dale;
Like the stars that glow,
Whose love-song's a beam, whose words
Like sweet odors flow;

Or like to the breeze of morn,
Waving round its rose,
In love's dallying caress
Melting as it blows.

But the love-lorn nightingale
Melteth not away;
She doth but with longing tones
Chant her plaintive lay.

I am, too, a nightingale,
Songless though I sing;
'Tis my pen that speaks, though ne'er
In the ear it ring.

Beaming images of thought
Doth the pen portray;
But without thy gentle smile
Lifeless e'er are they.

As thy look falls on the leaf,
It begins to sing,
And the prize that's due to love
In her ear doth ring.

Like a Memmon's statue now
Every letter seems,
Which in music wakes, when kissed
By the morning's beams.

* * * * *

"HE CAME TO MEET ME"[52] (1821)

He came to meet me
In rain and thunder;
My heart 'gan beating
In timid wonder.
Could I guess whither
Thenceforth together
Our path should run, so long asunder?

He came to meet me
In rain and thunder,
With guile to cheat me--
My heart to plunder.
Was't mine he captured?
Or his I raptured?
Half-way both met, in bliss and wonder!

He came to meet me
In rain and thunder;
Spring-blessings greet me
Spring-blossoms under.
What though he leave me?
No partings grieve me--
No path can lead our hearts asunder.

* * * * *
THE INVITATION[53] (1821)

Thou, thou art rest
And peace of soul--
Thou woundst the breast
And makst it whole.

To thee I vow
'Mid joy or pa