TO REVENITA

Thy teacher, then, will take thee there, And ever watch with tender care, To guard they way to loftiest aim, And his reward thy love shall claim.

SANSON.

TO SANSON

O, inconsistent teacher, He'd knowledge give away; Fill head and heart, from tome of art, Then take me for his pay.

He'd kindly lead me to the realm Where joyous freedom reigns, He'd teach my soul love's sweet control, Then claim it for his pains.

REVENITA.

TO REVENITA

Ah! Reyenita, do not charge To selfishness thy teacher's plea, He seeks thine every wish to bless, His deepest fault is loving thee.

"Heaven's kingdom," said the Nazerene, "Is in the heart;" sweet fairy queen Thou rulest along this realm of mine, Canst say I have no place in thine?

SANSON.

TO SANSON

They boast of Ormuz's milk-white pearls, The ruby's magic art, And proudly wear the crystal drop That fires the diamond's heart.

And these may admiration claim, And countless wealth may sway, But rarer gem was given to me, One golden summer day.

Its wondrous tints, a brilliant glow, Emit in darkest gloom, A sweeter fragrance 'round it clings, Than breath of eastern bloom.

Were all earth's costly jewels thrown In one great glittering heap, They could not buy for ev'n a day The gem I'd selfish keep.

Yet 'twas not won from pearly depths, Nor gleaned from diamond mine, Nor all the chemist's subtlety Its substance could define.

It ne'er was set in band of fold Some dainty hand to grace, Ne'er shone in diadem to deck A brow of kingly race.

For me alone, a wizard spell Lies prisoned in its beams, Hours of enchanted ecstacy And days of Eden dreams.

Wouldst know the precious gift with which For worlds I would not part?

The priceless jewel is they love, Its setting is my heart.

REVENITA.

TO REVENITA

Oh, in the hush of midnight's hour, When darkness sleeps on land and sea, How oft in dreams, sweet fragile flower, Thou'st come to bless and comfort me.

O, in the hush of midnight's hour, How oft from taunting dreams I start, To find thee but a fancy flower-- Thou cherished idol of my heart.

SANSON.

TO SANSON

I've a beautiful home, where I live in my dreams, So joyous and happy--an Eden it seems; All beautiful things in nature and are Are blending to rapture the mind and the heart; No discords to jar, no dissensions arise, 'Tis calm as Italia's ever blue skies, When kissed by the bright rosy blush of the morn; And a voice of the spheres on the breezes is borne, Soft as the murmur of sea-tinted sh.e.l.ls, Sweet as the chiming of far away bells; And grief cannot enter, nor trouble nor care, And the proud peerless prince of my soul, he is there.

In my beautiful home from the cold world apart, He holds me so close to his fast beating heart; More enchanting his voice than the syren-wrapt song, O'er the wind-dimpled ocean soft floating along, As he whispers his love in love's low pa.s.sioned tone, Such home, and such lover, no other has known.

REVENITA.

TO REVENITA

O, let us leave this world behind-- Its gains, its loss, its praise, its blame-- Not seeking fame, nor fearing shame, Some far secluded land we'll find, And build thy dream-home, you and I, And let this foolish world go by.

A paradise of love and bliss!

Delicious draughts in Eden bowers, Of peace, and rest, and quiet hours, We'll drink, for what we've missed in this.

The shafts of malice we'll defy, And let this foolish world go by.

SANSON.

TO SANSON

Life of my life, my soul's best part, I could not live without thee now; And yet this love must break my heart, Or break a sacred vow.

Which shall it be? an answer oft From puzzling doubts I've sought to wake; Must joy, or misery, hence be mine, Must heart or promise break?

Alone, Heaven's highest court would prove A desolated land to me; Earth's barest, barren desert wild, A paradise with thee.

REVENITA.

TO REVENITA

Thou hast beamed on my pathway, a vision of light, To guide and to bless from afar; To illume with thy smile the dead chill of night, My star, my bright, beautiful star.