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which I have not named to thee； it is An humble home； whose hospitable
door Was never closed against the wayfarer； If thou hast need of aught
which it affords； Seek it； my mother and my sister will Delight to minister
unto thy wants。 There where the wide…armed willows cluster thickest
Upon the green banks of yon crystal stream； Our cottage stands。 The path
to it is short And easily traversed；so； now； farewell。
Werner。
Stay yet a moment。 That which thou hast proffered； Is what I sought。
Thou hast a noble heart； One fit to fill the bosom of a king； I fain would
give thee guerdon；here is gold。
Albert。
Keep it for those who covet it。 If ever Thou meet'st with one； bowed
down by suffering； Who calls on thee for pity and relief； Then if thou
heed'st his prayer for my sake； I shall be well repaid。 Again； farewell。
｛Exeunt。
Scene IV。 After a lapse of time。 A rustic arbour near the cottage of
Manuel。 Enter Rose and Werner。
Rose。
Nay； let my silent blushes plead with thee That thou wilt be as
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silent。
Werner。
Rather let My ardent love； which will not be repressed； Plead with thee
for acceptance of my suit； For I do love thee with such passionate love；
That life itself； if weighed against that love； Were scarce a feather in the
scale。
Rose。
Alas！ I'm but a simple shepherd's simple child； Unused to courtly
speeches； and they say That in the world thy name and rank are high； And
that when such as thou do proffer love And faith to lowly maidens； 'tis a
jest； And that when they have won our honest love； They cast it from
them with unpitying hands； As idly as they would a withered flower。
Werner。
Nay； maiden； let me tell thee of the past； Let me lay bare my heart
beneath thy gaze； And thou wilt pity if thou canst not love。 I loved in
youth with love as fond and deep As ever made the heart of man its slave；
But； ere my hopes could ripen to fruition； Death came and made my
worshipped one his prize； And though my peace departed when she died；
Yet I was proud； and would not bond to sorrow； But with calm brow and
eye； and smiling lip； I mingled with the giddy thoughtless world； Seeking
from out its varied realms to wring Some recompense for that which I had
lost。 Wealth； fame； and power； I sought for and obtained； Yet found them
only gilded mockeries。 The paths of hidden knowledge I essayed； And trod
their mazy windings till they led My footstepswhither I may not
disclose； But all availed me nothing； still my heart Ached with the dreary
void lost love had made； Ached ever till that void was filled by thee！
Since first fate led me to your kindly door； Three times the moon with full…
orbed light hath shone； Thrice thirty times； with song of merry birds And
breath of fragrance； Morn has blest the earth And all its dwellers with her
radiant presence； Thrice thirty times； with star…bound brow； dim Night
Hath kept her tearful watch above the earth； And every time the full…orb'd
moon hath shone； And every time the merry Morn hath smiled； And every
time dim Night with star…bound brow Above the earth hath kept her tearful
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watch； My heart has added to its store of love； Its pure； deep； fervent；
passionate love for thee！ By all my hopes of heaven； my words are true。
Dost thou not pity now？
Rose。
Ay； more！ My heart； And its full treasury of maiden love； Never before
surrendered to another； I pledge to thee； as thine； for evermore！
＇Exeunt。
An Aerial Chorus。
Seek the dell and seek the bower； Pluck the bud and pluck the flower；
Search for buds of sweetest breath； Search for flowers of brightest hue；
Fit to weave the bridal wreath； Of a maid so fair and true。 She has bowed
the haughty heart； Won the stubborn will from guile； With no aid of
other art Than the sweet spell of her smile！
Seek the dell and seek the bower； Pluck the bud and pluck the flower；
Search for buds of sweetest breath； Search for flowers of brightest hue；
Fit to weave the bridal wreath； Of a maid so fair and true！
＇Exeunt。
Note to the Misanthrope
〃Then seek we； for the maiden's pillow； Far beyond the Atlantic's
billow； Love's apple；and when we have found it； Draw the magic circles
round it。〃
Considering the Mandrake； many fabulous notions were entertained by
the ancients； and they never attempted to extract it from the earth； without
the previous performance of such ceremonies as they considered
efficacious in preventing the numerous accidents； dangers； and diseases； to
which they believed the person exposed who was daring enough to
undertake its extraction。 The usual manner of obtaining it was this：When
found； three times a circle was drawn around it with the point of a naked
sword； and a dog was then attached to it and beaten； until by his struggles
it was disengaged from the earth。
It was supposed to be useful in producing dreams； philters； charms &c。；
and also to possess the faculties of exciting love； and increasing
population。
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The Emperor Adrian； in a letter to Calexines； writes that he is drinking
the juice of the Mandrake to render him amorous： hence it was called
Love…apple。
It grows in Italy； Spain； and the Levant。
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
TO ISABEL A Beautiful Little Girl。
Fair as some sea…child； in her coral bower； Decked with the rare；
rich treasures of the deep； Mild as the spirit of the dream whose power
Bears back the infant's soul to heaven； in sleep Brightens the hues of
summer's first…born flower Pure as the tears repentant mourners weep
O'er deeds to which the siren； Sin； beguiled； Art thou； sweet； smiling；
bright…eyed cherub child。
Thy presence is a spell of holiness； From which unhallowed
thoughts shrink blushing back； Thy smile is a warm light that shines to
bless； As beams the beacon o'er the wanderer's track； Thy voice is
music； at whose sounds Distress Unbinds her writhing victim from the
rack Of misery； and charmed by what she hears； Forgets her woes； and
smiles upon her tears。
And when I look upon thee； bearing now The promise of such
loveliness； I ask If time will blight； that promise； if thy brow； So sunny
now； will learn to wear the mask Of hollow smiles； or cold deceit； whilst
thou Art learning in thy soul the bitter task Time teaches to all bosoms；
when the glow Of hope is o'erbut this I may not know。
My path will not be near to thine through life； Kind ones will
guard and fondly shelter thee； Me bitterness awaits； and care and strife；
And all that sorrow has of agony； My future； as my past was； will be rife
With heartaches； and the pangs that 〃pass not by；〃 Each hour shall give
thee some new pleasure； years； Long years can bring me only toil 'and
tears。
'Tis meet that it should be so；I have made A wreck of my own
happiness； and cast Across my heart； in youth； the dull； deep shade
That wrinkled age flings over all at last But let it go；I have too long
delayed The remedy； and what is past is past； And could I live those
vanished moments o'er； My heart would wander as it strayed before。
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I know not how it is；my heart is stern； And little giv