ONE OF LIFE'S MISTAKES.
101
The bright-eyed stars in summer nights that shine,
The purple grape before 'tis changed to wine,—
No purer are than this pure wife of mine.
The purple grape before 'tis changed to wine,—
No purer are than this pure wife of mine.
She charmed me like some painting rare and old,
My soul twined round her, sinuous fold on fold;
But I was proud and kept my love untold.
My soul twined round her, sinuous fold on fold;
But I was proud and kept my love untold.
I tried to stifle what I felt, and said
I'd starve my passion till its roots were dead,—
For I was poor, and she was nobly bred.
I'd starve my passion till its roots were dead,—
For I was poor, and she was nobly bred.
But love is strong, and like the mighty sea,
Which dashes helpless vessels on the lee,
It burst the bounds I set, and conquered me.
Which dashes helpless vessels on the lee,
It burst the bounds I set, and conquered me.
I took her hand in mine one summer day,—
She met my look, and did not turn away:
Her blue eye's sadness haunts me still alway.
She met my look, and did not turn away:
Her blue eye's sadness haunts me still alway.
Had she but told me she had loved before,—
That through some sad mistake the dream was o'er,
And that her heart was dead for evermore!
That through some sad mistake the dream was o'er,
And that her heart was dead for evermore!
I fondly thought no other lips had pressed
The red of hers; I thought her quiet breast
Had never held another head to rest.
The red of hers; I thought her quiet breast
Had never held another head to rest.
I smoothed her dainty fingers white as snow,
And watched her face to see her pale cheek glow,
And thought no other man had touched her so.
And watched her face to see her pale cheek glow,
And thought no other man had touched her so.
