I am not; but to-night I shall be, if I live. Your scorn, poor child, Is thrown away. Bound by his soldier’s oath, I would not keep him. No Omphale I, Though he be Hercules. We plighted troth, And then, when called, he went from me--to die If need be. I remember that I smiled When they marched by! Love for my country burns Within my heart; but this was love for him. I could not brook him, one who backward turns For loving wife; his passion must not dim The soldier’s courage stern. Then I had wealth, The golden wealth left me by that old man Who called me wife for four short months; by stealth He won me, but a child; the quiet plan Was deftly laid. I do not blame him now. My mother dead--one kind thought was to save My budding youth from harm. The thoughtless vow I made was soon dissevered by the grave, And I was left alone. Since then I’ve breathed All pleasures as the flowers breathe in the sun, At heart as innocent as they; red-wreathed My careless life with roses, till the one Came! Then the red turned purple deep, the hope Found itself love; the rose was heliotrope. There needed much To do with lawyers’ pens ere I could give My hand again; so that dear, longed-for touch Was set by me for the full-blooming day When Peace shall drive the demon War away Forever. I was wrong. Oh, let him live, Kind God! Love shall be wronged no more--no more. All my own heart’s life will I gladly pour For one small hour of his.--Wait--wait--I fly To thee, my love, on swiftest wings! Thy cry The depths of grief too hot for tears doth move: “Oh, come to me, my love, my love, my love!”
He is _Not_ false; I’ll ne’er believe it, woman.
His The falseness of the pine-tree, felled, uptorn By the great flood, and onward madly borne With the wild, foaming torrent miles away.-- No doubt he loved the violet that grew In the still woods ere the floods came; he knew Not then of roses!
Cruel eyes, I say But this to all your flashings--you have lied To me in all!
Look, then, here at my side His letters--read them. Did he love me? Read! Aha! you flush, you tremble, there’s no need To show you more; the strong words blanch your cheek. See, here his picture; could I make it speak, How it would kill you! Yes, I wear it there Close to my heart. Know you this golden hair That lies beside it?