Legends and Lyrics. Part 1. Procter Adelaide Anne

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      Over an ancient scroll I bent,

      Steeping my soul in wise content,

      Nor paused a moment, save to chide

      A low voice whispering at my side.

      I wove beneath the stars’ pale shine

      A dream, half human, half divine;

      And shook off (not to break the charm)

      A little hand laid on my arm.

      I read; until my heart would glow

      With the great deeds of long ago;

      Nor heard, while with those mighty dead,

      Pass to and fro a faltering tread.

      On the old theme I pondered long —

      The struggle between right and wrong;

      I could not check such visions high,

      To soothe a little quivering sigh.

      I tried to solve the problem – Life;

      Dreaming of that mysterious strife,

      How could I leave such reasonings wise,

      To answer two blue pleading eyes?

      I strove how best to give, and when,

      My blood to save my fellow-men —

      How could I turn aside, to look

      At snowdrops laid upon my book?

      Now Time has fled – the world is strange,

      Something there is of pain and change;

      My books lie closed upon the shelf;

      I miss the old heart in myself.

      I miss the sunbeams in my room —

      It was not always wrapped in gloom:

      I miss my dreams – they fade so fast,

      Or flit into some trivial past.

      The great stream of the world goes by;

      None care, or heed, or question, why

      I, the lone student, cannot raise

      My voice or hand as in old days.

      No echo seems to wake again

      My heart to anything but pain,

      Save when a dream of twilight brings

      The fluttering of an angel’s wings!

      Though he lived and died among us,

      Yet his name may be enrolled

      With the knights whose deeds of daring

      Ancient chronicles have told.

      Still a stripling, he encountered

      Poverty, and struggled long,

      Gathering force from every effort,

      Till he knew his arm was strong.

      Then his heart and life he offered

      To his radiant mistress – Truth;

      Never thought, or dream, or faltering,

      Marred the promise of his youth.

      So he rode forth to defend her,

      And her peerless worth proclaim;

      Challenging each recreant doubter

      Who aspersed her spotless name.

      First upon his path stood Ignorance,

      Hideous in his brutal might;

      Hard the blows and long the battle

      Ere the monster took to flight.

      Then, with light and fearless spirit,

      Prejudice he dared to brave;

      Hunting back the lying craven

      To her black sulphureous cave.

      Followed by his servile minions,

      Custom, the old Giant, rose;

      Yet he, too, at last was conquered

      By the good Knight’s weighty blows.

      Then he turned, and, flushed with victory

      Struck upon the brazen shield

      Of the world’s great king, Opinion

      And defied him to the field.

      Once again he rose a conqueror,

      And, though wounded in the fight,

      With a dying smile of triumph

      Saw that Truth had gained her right.

      On his failing ear re-echoing

      Came the shouting round her throne;

      Little cared he that no future

      With her name would link his own.

      Spent with many a hard-fought battle,

      Slowly ebbed his life away,

      And the crowd that flocked to greet her

      Trampled on him where he lay.

      Gathering all his strength, he saw her

      Crowned and reigning in her pride!

      Looked his last upon her beauty,

      Raised his eyes to God, and died.

      Linger, oh, gentle Time,

      Linger, oh, radiant grace of bright To-day!

      Let not the hours’ chime

      Call thee away,

      But linger near me still with fond delay.

      Linger, for thou art mine!

      What dearer treasures can the future hold?

      What sweeter flowers than thine

      Can she unfold?

      What secrets tell my heart thou hast not told?

      Oh, linger in thy flight!

      For shadows gather round, and should we part,

      A dreary starless night

      May fill my heart, —

      Then pause and linger yet ere thou depart.

      Linger, I ask no more, —