Classic and Contemporary Poetry
COLIN AND LUCY, by THOMAS TICKELL Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Of leinster, famed for maidens fair Last Line: And fear to meet him there. Subject(s): Leinster, Ireland | ||||||||
OF Leinster, famed for maidens fair, Bright Lucy was the grace, Nor e'er did Liffy's limpid stream Reflect so sweet a face; Till luckless love and pining care Impaired her rosy hue, Her coral lips and damask cheeks, And eyes of glossy blue. O, have you seen a lily pale When beating rains descend? So drooped the slow-consuming maid, Her life now near its end. By Lucy warned, of flattering swains Take heed, ye easy fair! Of vengeance due to broken vows, Ye perjured swains! beware. Three times all in the dead of night A bell was heard to ring, And, shrieking, at her window thrice The raven flapped his wing. Too well the love-lorn maiden knew The solemn boding sound, And thus in dying words bespoke The virgins weeping round: "I hear a voice you cannot hear, Which says I must not stay; I see a hand you cannot see, Which beckons me away. "By a false heart and broken vows In early youth I die. Was I to blame because his bride Was thrice as rich as I? "Ah, Colin! give not her thy vows, Vows due to me alone; Nor thou, fond maid! receive his kiss, Nor think him all thy own. "To-morrow in the church to wed, Impatient both prepare; But know, fond maid! and know, false man! That Lucy will be there. "Then bear my corpse, my comrades! bear, This bridegroom blithe to meet; He in his wedding trim so gay, I in my winding sheet." She spoke; she died. Her corpse was borne The bridegroom blithe to meet: He in his wedding trim so gay, She in her winding sheet. Then what were perjured Colin's thoughts? How were these nuptials kept? The bridesmen flocked round Lucy dead, And all the village wept. Confusion, shame, remorse, despair, At once his bosom swell; The damps of death bedewed his brow: He shook, he groaned, he fell. From the vain bride -- ah! bride no more -- The varying crimson fled, When stretched before her rival's corpse She saw her husband dead. Then to his Lucy's new-made grave Conveyed by trembling swains, One mould with her, beneath one sod, Forever he remains. Oft at this grave the constant hind And plighted maid are seen; With garlands gay and true-love knots They deck the sacred green. But, swain forsworn! whoe'er thou art, This hallowed spot forbear; Remember Colin's dreadful fate, And fear to meet him there. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE EARL OF WARWICK ON THE DEATH OF MR. ADDISON by THOMAS TICKELL THE CORNUCOPIA OF RED AND GREEN COMFITS by AMY LOWELL DOMESDAY BOOK: THE JURY DELIBERATES by EDGAR LEE MASTERS PSALM 139 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE HONEY DRIPPING FROM THE COMB by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY WHITTIER by MARGARET ELIZABETH MUNSON SANGSTER PETER STUYVESANT'S NEW YEAR'S CALL, 1 JAN. 1661 by EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN MY SHADOW by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON THE MARCH OF XERXES by LUIGI ALAMANNI |
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