INSCRIBED TO ———
Where'er thou goest, I will go,
O'er Egypt's sands, or Zembla's snow!
Where'er thy weary eyelids close.
There will thy Charlotte seek repose;
Though on the naked earth we lie,
While tempests rule the darkning sky,
Still, still undaunted will I be,
And find the holiest calm with thee.
That people whom thou call'st thy own,
Shall only to my heart be known,
And our great Father, God, above,
With equal warmth we both will love.
Where'er thy last expiring breath,
Is yielded to relentless Death,
On that same spot will Charlotte die,
And in the tomb, thy Charlotte lie.
The Lord do this, and more to me,
If more than this, part thee from me,
As living, but one heart we own.
So dying we will still be ONE.
[Port Folio.
The Peasant and his Wife.
HE.
The long, long day, again has pass'd
In sorrow and distress:
I strive my best—but strive in vain,
I labour hard—but still remain
Poor, and in wretchedness.
SHE.
Nay, we have health—you love your wife—
And she returns its flame;
Want still is absent from our cot,
God gives us breath to sooth our lot,
What more can you desire?
HE.
I wish'd to earn a little sum,
My dearest wife for thee;
I wish'd, by toiling day and night,
To gain some wealth that might requite
Thy fond fidelity.
SHE.
No wealth repays fidelity,
Nor gold nor monarch's crown;
My heart which doth to thee incline,
Finds all its love repaid by thine,
And smiles at Fortune's frown.
HE.
But ah! to see thee live in want,
It fills my soul with care.
That thou so noble just and good,
Must slave and toil for daily food,
That drives me to despair.
SHE.
I gaily work [God knows my heart]
Contented at your side:
More joys than wealth can give I prove,
To share thy sorrows and thy love;
Thy faithful heart's my pride.
HE.
But who, when I am snatch'd from thee
Will hush thy trembling sighs?
And when our babe shall weeping say,
"Oh mother! give me bread I pray!"
Who then will heed its cries;
SHE.
God! whom the worm and sparrow shields,
Man in his need can aid;
He'll be my comfort when thou'rt fled—
The orphan's sire will give him bread—
O! be his will obey'd.
HE.
Wife of my heart, how great thou art!
Thy love is all my weal;
I feel so proud of one like thee—
Thy love and thy fidelity
Inspire me with fresh zeal.