IN a soft vision of the night, My Fancy represented to my sight A goodly gentle shade; Methought it mov'd with a majestic grace, But the surprising sweetness of its face Made me amaz'd, made me afraid: I found a secret shivering in my heart, Such as friends feel that meet or part: Approaching nearer with a timorous eye, Is then my Parthenissa dead, said I? Ah Parthenissa! if thou yet are kind, As kind as when, like me, thou mortal wert, When thou and I had equal share in either's heart, How canst thou bear that I am left behind! Dear Parthenissa! O those pleasant hours, That blest our innocent amours! When in the common treasury of one breast, All that was thine or mine did rest. Dear Parthenissa! -- Friend! what shall I say? Ah speak to thy Urania! Oh envious Death! nothing but thee I fear'd, No other rival could estrange Her soul from mine or make a change. Scarce had I spoke my passionate fears, And overwhelm'd myself in tears: But Parthenissa smil'd, and then she disappear'd. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO A YOUNG BEAUTY by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS LAMENT OF THE FRONTIER GUARD by LI PO THE INCHCAPE ROCK by ROBERT SOUTHEY THE MALLARDS PASS UNHARMED by LAURA FRANCES ALEXANDER THE BABES IN THE WOOD; OR, THE NORFOLK TRAGEDY by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM YOU, WHO HAVE SONS TO SPARE! by L. ALLEN BECK |