The Mother’s Tragedy

2 THE MOTHER'S TRAGEDY Love that was strong die away as a song, Melt as a cable of sand. But I am watching, with unwearied eye, The wayfare of the tragedy. I see the brightness of the home; I see The grisly phantom of despair to be. I see the miserable past redeemed, (Intolerable as its purpose seemed,) Redeemed by love: I see the jealous days Pass into sunshine, and youth-beaming rays Quicken the soul’s elixir. Let me show How these air-castles tumble into woe. CORA. Why did your eyelids quiver as I spoke ? A smile, a tear? that trembling, in their deep Violet passion, of the beautiful Eyes that they half discover? Speak to me. I have long thought a secret was your spouse, Shared your deep fancies and your lightest word, Partook your maiden bed, and gave you dreams Somewhat too troublous to be virginal. MADELINE. My dear kind Cora, do they lie to you, These fancies of my idle hours? Believe, I seem to tremble at my inward thought ; My heart is full of wonder. When I go Nightward beneath the moon, and take my thoughts