Part 27

All past words retracing, One by one, Does not help effacing What is done. Let it be. Oh, stronger Links can break! Had we dreamed still longer We could wake,-- Yet let us part in kindness For Love's sake.

Bitterness and sorrow Will at last, In some bright to-morrow, Heal their past; But future hearts will never Be as true As mine was--is ever, Dear, for you . . . . . . Then must we part, when loving As we do?

VERSE: PAST AND PRESENT

"Linger," I cried, "oh radiant Time! thy power Has nothing more to give; life is complete: Let but the perfect Present, hour by hour, Itself remember and itself repeat.

"And Love,--the future can but mar its splendour, Change can but dim the glory of its youth; Time has no star more faithful or more tender, To crown its constancy or light its truth."

But Time passed on in spite of prayer or pleading, Through storm and peril; but that life might gain A Peace through strife all other peace exceeding, Fresh joy from sorrow, and new hope from pain.

And since Love lived when all save Love was dying, And, passed through fire, grew stronger than before:- Dear, you know why, in double faith relying, I prize the Past much, but the Present more.

VERSE: FOR THE FUTURE

I wonder did you ever count The value of one human fate; Or sum the infinite amount Of one heart's treasures, and the weight Of Life's one venture, and the whole concentrate purpose of a soul.

And if you ever paused to think That all this in your hands I laid Without a fear:- did you not shrink From such a burthen? half afraid, Half wishing that you could divide the risk, or cast it all aside.

While Love has daily perils, such As none foresee and none control; And hearts are strung so that one touch, Careless or rough, may jar the whole, You well might feel afraid to reign with absolute power of joy and pain.

You well might fear--if Love's sole claim Were to be happy: but true Love Takes joy as solace, not as aim, And looks beyond, and looks above; And sometimes through the bitterest strife first learns to live her highest life.

Earth forges joy into a chain Till fettered Love forgets its strength, Its purpose, and its end;--but Pain Restores its heritage at length, And bids Love rise again and be eternal, mighty, pure, and free.

If then your future life should need A strength my Love can only gain Through suffering, or my heart be freed Only by sorrow, from some stain-- Then you shall give, and I will take, this Crown of fire for Love's dear sake.

Sept. 8th, 1860.