| |
| LADY, I ’ve climb’d the mountain side, | |
| And roam’d the flowery lea, | |
| And gather’d the garden’s glowing pride, | |
| And the rose and lily in soft bands tied, | |
| A garland meet for thee. | 5 |
| |
| O the wreath is fair—but fairest flowers | |
| They fade too easily! | |
| And they fold their leaves at evening hours, | |
| And they droop and die when the tempest lowers, | |
| Then offer not flowers to me. | 10 |
| |
| Lady, earth’s richest mines I ’ve sought, | |
| And search’d the deep blue sea, | |
| Where coral caves are with gems inwrought, | |
| And these diamonds pure, and pearls I ’ve brought, | |
| As fitting gifts for thee. | 15 |
| |
| O, those are gifts the great demand, | |
| They are offer’d on bended knee, | |
| With a grudging heart by the servile band, | |
| A tribute or bribe to the tyrant’s hand, | |
| Then offer not pearls to me. | 20 |
| |
| Lady, this glittering star to gain, | |
| The price of victory, | |
| I rush’d upon the battle plain, | |
| And traced my path by the heaps of slain— | |
| This star I ’ll pledge to thee. | 25 |
| |
| O, titled fame! an airy word, | |
| A puff of vanity! | |
| Ah, think what crimson streams are pour’d, | |
| That man, weak man, may be hail’d a Lord! | |
| Then offer not rank to me. | 30 |
| |
| Lady, I have a heart as pure | |
| As the birthright of the free: | |
| And the faith I vow will for aye endure, | |
| And my love as flowers to the spring is sure;— | |
| This heart I ’ll give to thee. | 35 |
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| O, ’t is now thy words have power to move! | |
| My warm tears speak for me; | |
| For on earth below, or in heaven above, | |
| The richest gift is the heart of love— | |
| And here ’s a heart for thee! | 40 |
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