Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AVANT-PROPOS. CONSTANCY (1828). How often hath the simple tale been told Of sudden, rapt, unutterable joy When love first thrills the heart of guileless And colors everything with rose and gold. Once kindled, love's strong flame can ne'er grow cold; The clouds of care may hide, but not destroy; Nor will its honeyed sweetness ever cloy, Though taste be delicate and culture old. And even in the blissful realms above If aught could chill pure love's perennial glow, Let void Nirvana quench the conscious me. Not Heaven shall make man false to boyhood's love. Embarked upon its tide shall being flow On in eternal continuity. ONE SPIRIT, MANY MANIFESTATIONS. A Cynosure iii boyhood's roseate sky, Her fairy figure floated airily To lure him onward towards his destiny,— The heaven reflected in her laughing eye. The altar where she prayed oft heard his sigh, For there betimes he bent the pious knee To worship God—in virgin purity. 'Twas bliss to be, if only she were nigh. But each horizon brings bright stars to view; And many marvels love's career befall, Ere it may choose for better or for worse. One substance many forms may well endue. Who shares the gift of God is heir to all The love whose beauty fills the universe.YOUNG LOVE'S FIKST LAY. Oh, my life, may our love, as with angels above, Never ebb, but flow onward for aye ! For better or worse, 'mid success or reverse, Be we tender and constant as they. And still will I love thee wherever I rove, O'er the mountain or billowy main ; In sickness or health, or in want or in wealth, As I love thee, oh, love me again ! chapter{Section 4IV. INTEELUDE. The brooklet babbles by the way, The bird replies above. And what, I pray you, may they say ? The tale the...