SELECT POETRY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 166, 22 October 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

SELECT POETRY.

EUGENIE, ISSO.

Anguish attends thee, lady; sorrow meets thee, And ceaseless sister-like heside thee stands; Her arms enfold thee, and her chill kiss greets thee, Thy life’s joy freezing with close pressing hands.

Returned from worship and high consecration At that wild death-ground where thy last hope died, Thou waitest death’s release, emancipation, Thy mute companion over at thy side.

Oh, Priestess high ! in Grief’s dark court appointed To serve before her altars and to wait. Oh, Empress Queen ! By holiest rites anointed, And throned in majesty of queenliest state !

All earth’s dreams vanished, each fond hope surrendered, Crowned with the ‘ crown of sorrows’ and alone, Take this poor offering, tribute humbly rendered, Meek homage proffered at thy joyless throne.

Ear distant was our voice when fortune’s lustre Rayed round thy golden throne in ceaseless smile, While courtiers thronged thy court in ceaseless muster, Each word to flatter and each tear beguile.

To exile’s woes and patriot’s deeper sorrow, Our hearts were cast, our sympathies were borne; Trusting some wisdom from their grief to borrow, Their joyless hues and destinies forlorn.

We might not kneel where lordly pomp unthinking 'Drew from long-suffering hearts its light of pride ; The golden draught with light-lipped laughter driuking, 'While those iu hunger and in anguish died.

But God hath smitten thee, to U 3 revealing A nobler majesty upon thy brow ; And at thy feet with truest homage kneeling Our tears, our sympathies, we proffer now.

We pray, oh lady, that to death descending Lights from Elysian shores may cheer thy way ; That heaven’s pure calm with day’s wild storm-glare blending May to thy anguish solace sweet convey ;

That all thy faults may surely be forgiven ; That thou soul’s peace in fullest sweetness know; And God eternal grant thee in high heaven Full recompense of all thy earthly woe.