LANDON, Letitia Elizabeth (L.E.L.)

The Fate of Adelaide

…..

But know, my fair maiden, your well belov'd youth

Has wedded another,—great proof of his truth:

And, father, instead of regretting your fate,

Your children, at law squabble for your estate;

Your wife seems to think you no very great loss,

For, as you grew old, you grew stingy and cross.

And, general, already your laurels decay—

Fresh wreaths are adorning the chief of the day:
And you, my fine poet, who thought that the earth

To another such minstrel could never give birth,

Already your works are all thrown on the shelf,

And their author condemn'd as an ignorant elf.—

Yes ; look thro' the world, and this truth you will find

That, once out of sight, you are soon out of mind.

Revenge

Ay, gaze upon her rose-wreathed hair,

And gaze upon her smile;

Seem as you drank the very air

Her breath perfumed the while:

And wake for her the gifted line,

That wild and witching lay,

And swear your heart is as a shrine,

That only owns her sway.

'Tis well: I am revenged at last,—

Mark you that scornful cheek,—

The eye averted as you pass'd,

Spoke more than words could speak.

Ay, now by all the bitter tears

That I have shed for thee,—

The racking doubts, the burning fears,—

Avenged they well may be—

By the nights pass'd in sleepless care,

The days of endless woe;

All that you taught my heart to bear,

All that yourself will know.

I would not wish to see you laid

Within an early tomb;

I should forget how you betray'd,

And only weep your doom:

But this is fitting punishment,

To live and love in vain,—

Oh my wrung heart, be thou content,

And feed upon his pain.

Go thou and watch her lightest sigh,—

Thine own it will not be;

And bask beneath her sunny eye,—

It will not turn on thee.

'Tis well: the rack, the chain, the wheel,

Far better hadst thou proved;

Ev'n I could almost pity feel,

For thou art not beloved.