There is an evening twilight of the heart
When its wild passion-waves are lull’d to rest,
And the eye sees life’s fairy scenes depart,
As fades the day-dream in the rosy west.
’Tis with a nameless feeling of regret
We gaze upon them as they melt away,
And fondly would we bid them linger yet.
But Hope is 'round us with her angel lay,
Hailing afar some happier moonlight hour;
Dear are her whispers still, though lost their early power.
In youth the cheek was crimson’d with her glow
Her smile was loveliest then; her matin song
Had heaven’s own music, and the note of woe
Was all unheard her sunny bowers among.
Life’s little world of bliss was newly born;
We knew not, cared not, it was born to die,
Flush’d with the cool breeze and the dews of morn,
With dancing heart we gazed on the pure sky,
And mock’d the passing clouds that dimm’d its blue,
Like our own sorrows then, as fleeting and as few.
And manhood felt her sway too—on the eye,
Half realized her early dreams burst bright,
Her promised bower of happiness seem’d nigh,
Its days of joy, its vigils of delight.
And though at times might lower the thunder-storm,
And the red lightnings threaten, still the air
Was balmy with her breath, and her loved form,
The rainbow of the heart, was hovering there.
’Tis in life’s noontide she is nearest seen,
Her wreath the summer flower, her robe of summer green.
But though less dazzling in her twilight dress,
There’s more of heaven’s pure beam about her now;
That angel-smile of tranquil loveliness,
Which the heart worships, glowing on her brow;
That smile shall brighten the dim evening-star
That points our destined tomb, nor e’er depart
Till the faint light of life is fled afar,
And hush’d the last deep beating of the heart;
The meteor bearer of our parting breath,
A moonbeam in the midnight cloud of death.
FITZ-GREENE HALLECK.
-----
Footnote 1:
See Part XXIX. of the following selections.
Footnote 2:
Unwilling, for a moment, to be supposed entitled to credit to which
she can lay no just claim, the writer of these remarks hastens to avow
that whatever opinions she may have formed on subjects connected with
ancient literature, have been entirely drawn from translations.
Although it is impossible to enjoy the full perfection of a great poem
in any other than the original language, yet we are enabled, by means
of the best versions, to form general views regarding a work, and to
appreciate, at least, the spirit with which it is imbued.
Footnote 3:
Part X.
Footnote 4:
Goethe.
Footnote 5:
Part XXVII. These translations have all been transcribed from M. de
Humboldt’s pages.
Footnote 6:
Camöens.
Footnote 7:
See Parts XXIX. and XXX.
Footnote 8:
Copses.
Footnote 9:
“The Honorable Entertainement given to the Queenes Majestie (Queen
Elizabeth) in Progresse at Elvetham, in Hampshire, by the R. H. the
Earle of Hertford, 1501:
“The thirde daies Entertainement.
“On Wednesday morning, about 9 o’clock, as her Majestie opened a
casement of her gallerie window, ther were three excellent musitians,
who, being disguised in auncient country attire, did greete her with a
pleasant song of Corydon and Phillida, made in three parts, of
purpose. The song, as well for the worth of the dittie, as the
aptnesse of the note thereto applied, it pleased her Highnesse after
it had been once sung, to command it againe, and highly to grace it
with her cheerefull acceptaunce and commendation.”
Footnote 10:
It is scarcely necessary to observe that _weed_, in old English,
signified garment _bouir_, meant chamber, or apartment; _kute_, ankle;
_braune_, calf.
Footnote 11:
_See_ note on previous page.
Footnote 12:
Frederick Prince of Wales, father of George III.—ED.
Footnote 13:
Neustadt.
Footnote 14:
See _Othello_, Act ii., Scene 3.
Footnote 15:
Unexplained in any glossary.
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