| From such a vision,
bright with all the fame
Her youth, her innocence, her hope, could frame,
The maiden woke: and, when her shadowy gaze
Had lost the dazzled look of wild amaze
Turned on her mother when she first awoke,
Thus to her questioning glanee she answering spoke: -
"Methought, oh! gentle Mother, by thy side
I dwelt no more as now, but through a wide
And sweet world wandered; nor even then alone;
For ever in that dream's soft light stood one, -
I know not who, - yet most familiar seemed
The fond companionship of which I dreamed!
A Brother's love, is but a name to me;
A Father's, brightened not my infancy;
To me, in childhood's years, no stranger's face
Took, from long habit, friendship's holy grace;
My life hath still been lone, and needed not,
Heaven knows, more perfect love than was my lot
In thy dear heart: how dreamed I then, sweet Mother,
Of any love but thine, who knew no other?
"We seemed, this shadow and myself, to be
Together by the blue and boundless sea:
No settled home was present to my thought -
No other form my clouded fancy brought;
This one Familiar Presence still beguiled
My every thought, and looked on me and smiled.
Fair stretched in beauty lay the glittering strand,
With low green copses sloping from the land;
And tangled underwood, and sunny fern,
And flowers whose humble names none cared to learn,
Smail starry wild flowers, white and gold and blue,
With leaves turned crimson by th' autumnal hue,
Basked in the fervour of the noontide glow,
Whose hot rays pierced the thirsty roots below.
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