To Lida

THE only one whom,Lida,thou canst love,

Thou claim’st,and rightly claim’st,for only thee;

He too is wholly thine;since doomed to rove

Far from thee,in life’s turmoils nought I see

Save a thin veil,through which thy form I view,

As though in clouds;with kindly smile and true,

It cheers me，like the stars eterne[220]that gleam

Across the northern-lights‘far-flick’ring beam.

1789.