Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume III. Sorrow and Consolation. 1904. | | | | I. Disappointment in Love | | Fair Ines | | Thomas Hood (1799–1845) |
| | | O SAW ye not fair Ines? she ’s gone into the west, | |
| To dazzle when the sun is down, and rob the world of rest; | |
| She took our daylight with her, the smiles that we love best, | |
| With morning blushes on her cheek, and pearls upon her breast. | |
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| O turn again, fair Ines, before the fall of night, | 5 |
| For fear the moon should shine alone, and stars unrivalled bright; | |
| And blessèd will the lover be that walks beneath their light, | |
| And breathes the love against thy cheek I dare not even write! | |
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| Would I had been, fair Ines, that gallant cavalier | |
| Who rode so gayly by thy side and whispered thee so near!— | 10 |
| Were there no bonny dames at home, or no true lovers here, | |
| That he should cross the seas to win the dearest of the dear? | |
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| I saw thee, lovely Ines, descend along the shore, | |
| With bands of noble gentlemen, and banners waved before; | |
| And gentle youth and maidens gay, and snowy plumes they wore;— | 15 |
| It would have been a beauteous dream—if it had been no more! | |
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| Alas! alas! fair Ines! she went away with song, | |
| With music waiting on her steps, and shoutings of the throng; | |
| But some were sad, and felt no mirth, but only Music’s wrong, | |
| In sounds that sang Farewell, Farewell to her you ’ve loved so long. | 20 |
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| Farewell, farewell, fair Ines! that vessel never bore | |
| So fair a lady on its deck, nor danced so light before— | |
| Alas for pleasure on the sea, and sorrow on the shore! | |
| The smile that blest one lover’s heart has broken many more! | | | | |
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