2280299Landon in The Literary Gazette 1826From the French of Milleroye1826Letitia Elizabeth Landon

Literary Gazette, 4th February, 1826, Page 77


FROM THE FRENCH OF MILLEROYE.

The breath is failing on my lips,
    The light is fading from my eye!
My summons hath gone forth in spring—
    I know that I must die.

Fall, fall to earth, ye fragile leaves.
    And hide from my lone mother's sorrow
The last and lowly dwelling-place
    Where I shall be to-morrow!

But should the fading twilight bring
    Mine own dear maiden here to weep,
I cannot lose such precious tears—
    Wake my soul from its sleep.—

His low voice fail'd—the morrow came—
    But not to him—and strangers made,
Amid the fallen leaves, his grave,
    Beneath the oak tree's shade.

The twilight darken'd, and the winds
    Pined like a dirge upon the air;
Like tears the leaves fell from the boughs,—
    But never came his false love there.
IOLE.