The Bridegroom
(Not in the English sense of the word,but the German,where ithas the meaning of betrothed.)
I SLEPT,—’twas midnight,—in my bosom woke,
As though’twere day,my love-o’erflowing heart;
To me it seemed like night,when day first broke;
What is’t to me,whate’er it may impart?
She was away;the world’s unceasing strife
For her alone I suffer’d through the heat
Of sultry day;oh,what refreshing life
At cooling eve!-my guerdon was complete.
The sun now set,and wand’ring hand in hand,
His last and blissful look we greeted then;
While spake our eyes,as they each other scann’d：
“From the far east,let’s trust,he’ll come again!”
At midnight!-the bright stars,in vision blest,
Guide to the threshold where she slumbers[244]calm：
Oh be it mine,there too at length to rest,—
Yet howsoe’er this prove,life’s full of charm!
1828.