TWILIGHT.

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.

[1]. See Part XXIX. of the following selections.

[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.

[3]. Part X.

[4]. Goethe.

[5]. Part XXVII. These translations have all been transcribed from M. de Humboldt’s pages.

[6]. Camöens.

[7]. See Parts XXIX. and XXX.

[8]. Copses.

[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.”

[10]. It is scarcely necessary to observe that weed, in old English, signified garment bouir, meant chamber, or apartment; kute, ankle; braune, calf.

[11]. See note on previous page.

[12]. Frederick Prince of Wales, father of George III.—Ed.

[13]. Neustadt.

[14]. See Othello, Act ii., Scene 3.

[15]. Unexplained in any glossary.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

PageChanged fromChanged to
[167]mild-maid’s wish upon her, “That she may die in the spring, andmilk-maid’s wish upon her, “That she may die in the spring, and
[202]from it, being often called Neustadt ander grossen Linden, or Niestadfrom it, being often called Neustadt an der grossen Linden, or Niestad
[324][Heading missing]III.
[374]Where grass and flowers springWhere grass and flowers spring-a
[428]A moombeam in the midnight cloud of death.A moonbeam in the midnight cloud of death.