"Go forth beside the waters, and along
The chamois' paths, and through the forests go;
And tell in burning words thy tale of wrong
To the brave hearts that midst the hamlets glow,
God shall be with thee, my beloved!—away!
Bless but thy child and leave me—I can pray!"
It is ever thus with all her women,—gentle, courageous, full of self-devotion, and, alas! of sorrow and suffering. This is her ideal of woman, from which she rarely departs—a heart, overflowing with tenderest affection—ill-requited—yet refusing to receive any earthly boon as a substitute for the returned affection it seeks. Fame is no compensation—
Away! to me, a woman, bring
Sweet waters from affection's spring.
Genius when she sings to Love is made to say—
They crown me with the glistening crown,
Borne from a deathless tree;
I hear the pealing music of renown—
O Love, forsake me not!
Mine were a lone dark lot,
Bereft of thee!
They tell me that my soul can throw
A glory o'er the earth;
From thee, from thee, is caught that golden glow!
Shed by thy gentle eyes,
It gives to flower and skies
A bright new birth!
Genius singing to Love.
It is not often we find the superstitions of dark and ignorant ages dealt with in so gentle and agreeable a manner as by Mrs Hemans. She seizes, in common with others, the poetic aspect these present, but diffuses over them, at the same time, a refinement of sentiment gathered entirely from her own feelings. A subject which from another pencil would have been disagreeable and offensive to us, is made by her graceful touches to win upon our imagination. Witness the poem called The Wood Walk and Hymn; we will quote the commencement of it.
WOOD WALK AND HYMN.
"Move along these shades
In gentleness of heart—with gentle hand
Touch—for there is a spirit in the woods."
Wordsworth
FATHER—CHILD.
Child.—There are the aspens with their silvery leaves
Trembling, for ever trembling; though the lime
And chestnut boughs, and these long arching sprays
Of eglantine, hang still, as if the wood
Were all one picture!